By Hannes Myburgh
BONA editor and veteran journalist Force Khashane, 60, was shot by two robbers in his yard at his home in Orlando East, Soweto at 11pm on Wednesday.
His violent death has sent shock waves through the South African media fraternity, many of whom he worked with and mentored.
Khashane had a career spanning 28 years, 15 of them as an editor.
"He was a wonderful husband and father. He nurtured journalists and would see potential where no one had hope," said his wife Palesa.
She said she was awakened by gunshots around midnight. When she looked outside, she saw her husband lying in front of the garage door.
Their 8-year-old daughter ran to him. "She talked to her daddy, asking 'Daddy, will you be okay?'," Palesa said.
Khashane, with six gunshot wounds, was rushed to Lesedi Clinic, where he died. The robbers made off with a laptop.
Palesa criticised the government's stance on crime as encouraging violence.
She described National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele's reported comments encouraging police to shoot to kill as "insane". "Now (the criminals) kill us, they kill those we love," she said.
It was unclear yesterday whether Khashane had gone outside the house to investigate a noise or fetch something from the garage when he was attacked.
Khashane's family believe he was killed because he recognised the robbers.
His brother Solomon, who lives in the vicinity, said he went to investigate after hearing the shooting. He noticed two young men walking from the direction of Khashane's home. The two hid their faces and did not respond when he called to them. Shortly afterwards, Khashane's 15-year-old son told him that his father had been shot.
Yesterday the Khashanes were visited by various journalists and National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu.
SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) chairman Jovial Rantao paid a warm and heartfelt tribute to Khashane.
"To Sanef, and the media in South Africa, Khashane, the former editor of the now defunct Pace magazine, was a gentle, humble man and a hugely talented editor.
"He was a South African who dedicated his life to journalism. Many newsrooms and communication institutions are today full of talent that Khashane has nurtured over the years.
"His death should remind all of us that the campaign to rid our society of the scourge of crime should be intensified," Rantao said, offering condolences to his family.
He called on the police to investigate thoroughly.
Palesa held their dazed daughter on her lap. "I cried my heart out last night. I can't cry anymore," she said.
Khashane started his career as a freelancer for Golden City Post, the Rand Daily Mail and Sunday Times. He then worked full-time in the sports section for The World and Weekend World newspapers, which were later banned by the apartheid government.
After the banning of the two publications, he started a new publication, Post Transvaal, which was subsequently banned too.
Khashane played for Orlando Pirates in his youth and was also a minister in the Lion Juda church as well as a qualified sangoma.
He worked for Pace magazine from 1979 until it closed down in 2000, when he started as editor at Bona.
He was also one of the founding members and chairman of Soweto TV.
"Force was a good, honest and down-to-earth man. He was always there when you needed help. One of the most reliable people I knew in life," said Soweto TV CEO Tsepo Thafeng.
Khashane had been in the last stages of writing his autobiography at his death.
He leaves behind his wife and two children, Khashane, 15, and Maphoko, 8.
Orlando Police spokesperson Captain Philemon Khorombi confirmed a case of murder had been opened. He invited anyone with information about the incident to come forward.