Mzansi woke up on Thursday to the sad news of the untimely passing of TV & Radio producer, actor & writer Lumko Johnson. Not only was Lumko a great talent to the entertainment industry, they were a great advocate and activist for the LGBTIQIA+ community.
A statement from their family announcing his passing reads as follows:
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the untimely passing of our beloved Lumko “Johnson” Leqela. They departed on the 14th of September 2022. Lumko first entered the public realm as a young teenager on the popular SABC 1 YoTV platform. They went on to nurture a career in television broadcast, radio production and media at large. In their own words, Lumko was an “Accomplished TV & Radio Super Producer, Actor, Writer and Big Deal in Most Spaces”. This is a gut-wrenching loss to the Leqela family, their loved ones, the LGBTQIA+ community and ultimately to the South African broadcast and television community. Lumko lived a life filled with purpose and authenticity. As we process this shock as a community, let us remember their light in this world. Details on memorial and funeral arrangements will be shared by the family in due course. The family asks that the public and media respect their privacy as they deal with this difficult loss.
Messages of condolences have since been pouring in on twitter and on the post made by their family on Lumko’s Instagram page. Their industry peers have taken to twitter to share their experiences with Lumko and the kind of person they were. See some of the tributes below.
