Some of the condolences on Facebook – and via press statements – following the death of Farook Khan
◆ Alan Khan (radio personality): Today is an extremely sad day... Thank you Uncle Farook Khan for your immense contribution to our community and to our country. You have made a significant impact in the media world and on a personal note, I am extremely grateful to you for the role that you played in my own career. You supported me from my childhood days. I remember you helping me at the offices of the POST newspaper in Field Street for my first-ever interview in 1976. You and uncle Ami Nanackchand were instrumental in helping to lay the foundation of what is now an almost 30-year career for me in broadcasting. I know you have helped and guided so many others over the years – and this will be part of your legacy. I loved listening to your stories about your time with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Papwa Sewgolum. But it was the stories about South Africa and its people that inspired me the most. Sincere condolences to all of the family, friends and colleagues... This is a tremendous loss for us. Thank you Uncle Farook, I will miss your regular calls and most importantly, your daily messages of support to Mariam Seedat and I – especially after Mariam was diagnosed with cancer on 14 May this year. Your prayers, love and encouragement has been incredible. Thank you for always making time for my parents and for supporting my mum and the children of Green Fern PrePrimary School.
◆ Anant Singh (film producer): We are deeply saddened to lose a friend of almost 50 years. Farook was the quintessential newshound, and had a knack of writing engaging stories.
We first met in the 1970s when I ventured into film distribution, and he supported my progress in the film industry.
Over the years we became good friends and he always regaled us with stories of his adventures in life. He was a friend of boxing legend Muhammad Ali and was present at the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” fight against George Foreman in Zaire in October 1974. He was also very supportive when we brought the film, Ali, to South Africa…
Vanashree and I, together with the Videovision Entertainment Family, convey our deepest condolences to the Khan Family and wish them strength during this difficult time. Farook, we will miss you.
◆ Dharmatma Saran (chairman and founder of Miss India Worldwide and Mrs India Worldwide): With a heavy heart, I inform that my oldest and most trustworthy associate of Miss India Worldwide, Farook (bhai) Khan, just passed away in a hospital in Durban. He came with a large contingent from South Africa last month to attend (the) Miss/Mrs/Teen India Worldwide at the Leela Hotel in Mumbai. Founder of Miss India South Africa, Farook bhai was associated with us for 29 years and had become part of our family. He came to attend my younger daughter’s wedding and also to see my wife Neelam when she was seriously sick few years back. Farook bhai hosted Miss India Worldwide four times in South Africa and offered to host again in 2021 celebrating its 30th anniversary. A prominent journalist and author, his passing away has created a void which is difficult to fill. May his soul rest in peace!
◆ Iqbal Khan (colleague): He was a gentle giant who endeared himself to all – the rich and the poor. Ever willing to assist in any situation without hesitation. He mingled with the good, bad and the ugly and got the best for his newspaper. Everyone talks about Farook in glowing terms but there are a few who have stuck the knife into him at times but the man was big enough to survive.
Farook may be known as a news journalist but he excelled in sports writing as well. He covered soccer in the old, old SA Soccer League days and his famous column in the POST in those days was “We don’t pull our punches” co-written with Devan Moodley. Long live his legacy – he was someone many people looked up to for advice and everyone would miss him dearly.
◆ South African National Editors’ Forum: Farook Khan was a veteran news journalist… Khan worked for the Post Newspapers, Drum Magazine, the Daily News, the Sunday Tribune, Star and Pretoria News, amongst a number of publications. He captured the lifestyle of the Grey Street Casbah in a book he wrote titled Goodwill Lounge. He captured the protests and campaigns against the Villa Road evictions in Sydenham. “Farook was a colourful, lovable character. His lists of contacts included international figures in sport and entertainment as well as ordinary folks from every walk of life,” said former editor at Independent Newspapers Deon Delport . “He broke a host of stories through his hard work, tenacity and charm and many young journalists were taken under his wing.”