Johannesburg - South African newspaper editors and journalists turned to Twitter to pay tribute to Daily Sun founder Deon du Plessis, who died at his home in Johannesburg on Sunday.
“Deon du Plessis. A brother editor and a maestro of the red tops. He taught us a thing or two. Rest in peace,” wrote City Press editor Ferial Haffajee.
“Sad news about Deon, one of the more colourful characters in print in recent years. Condolences to Vanessa and family,” The Star newspaper's editor Moegsien Williams wrote.
Du Plessis was an Argus Africa journalist, after which he became the editor of the Pretoria News and then managing director of Gauteng newspapers at Independent Newspapers, where he came up with the idea of the Daily Sun.
He then left Independent and joined Media24, who helped fund the newspaper with him.
The Daily Sun is a tabloid which shook the newspaper industry, uncovering a whole new layer of newspaper readership amongst lower income groups.
“Condolences to all at the Daily Sun, all his colleagues, family and friends. #RIP #Deonduplessis,” The Mercury editor Angela Quintal wrote on Twitter.
“Deon du Plessis, publisher of the Daily Sun & one of characters of South African #journalism, died a few hours ago. Hamba Kahle brother #RIP,” wrote Mail & Guardian Online editor Chris Roper.
“Big loss for SA media,” Moneyweb editor Ryk van Niekerk wrote.
“On Monday 12/9 Deon du Plessis would of gone on long leave till the beginning of January. Died Sunday 11/9. Giant man, giant loss for Media24 and Daily Sun,” Beeld editor Peet Kruger wrote.
Business Day editor Peter Bruce wrote: “Sad to hear Deon du Plessis, journalist and raconteur, died today aged 59. Love to Vanessa.”
“#DeonduPlessis, father of South African red tops. He proved tabloids don't have to be cheap & nasty, but can be a force for good. #RIP,” wrote freelance journalist Raymond Joseph. - Sapa