By Marvin Charles.
Retired journalist Jeremy Gordin was killed during a robbery at his home in Parkview, Johannesburg, on Friday.
Police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo confirmed the incident, saying no arrests have yet been made.
It is understood that Gordin’s family were in Cape Town and grew concerned when Gordin was unresponsive to messages on Friday night.
A friend gained access to Gordin’s home – which had been locked from the outside – and found it had been ransacked and his body had been covered.
His wife, Deborah, said on Saturday evening that she was flying home from Cape Town. She could not provide more details.
“As far as I understand, the only thing that was stolen was his car. I’ve had a brief conversation with the Colonel, and they were trying to get information about him, such as his ID,” she said.
Police spent most of the day on Saturday scrubbing the scene and scouring the area for clues.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has expressed its condolences to the family and friends of renowned journalist, author and poet Gordin.
In a statement, Acting GCIS Director-General Michael Currin said those who are alleged to be responsible for Gordin’s death must be brought to book.
“Government conveys its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Gordin. He will also be remembered for his generosity, humour, knowledge of literature and history, and the numerous lives he touched, in addition to his outstanding contribution to journalism in South Africa.
“The government is confident that the law enforcement authorities will expedite the investigation to ensure that the perpetrators responsible for the death of our late, esteemed journalist face the full might of the law,” Currin said.
The statement called on those with information about his death to come forward as investigations into Gordin’s death are underway.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) also conveyed its condolences to the family and friends of Gordin, who was murdered at his Parkview home in Johannesburg on Friday night.
Quoting the famous American guitarist, Jimi Hendrix – “I’m the one that’s got to die when it’s time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to” – because, as Sanef said, Gordin lived his life “the way he wanted to”.
“He was known not to hold back punches when they needed to be thrown. He was full of life, well-read, and had a distinct sense of humour.
“Gordin’s callous murder should not only be merely condemned, but we also call on the SA Police Service to do more to find and arrest the murderous thugs who killed him. Sanef continues to be concerned about the rising number of attacks on journalists and news crews,” it said.
Gordin had a string of awards to his name, having also won Mondi Shanduka awards in 2003 and 2004. Gordin writes a column for Politicsweb and served as Associate Editor of The Sunday Independent, The Sunday Tribune and The Sunday Argus for three years. From 2003 – 2005 he was Acting Editor of the Independent News Network and Group Special Writer.
He had co-authored two books of investigative journalism, The Infernal Tower (1996) and A Long Night’s Damage (1998) but is widely known for the biography that he completed last year on the life and times of President Jacob Zuma entitled Zuma: A Biography. Born in Pretoria 1952, Gordin studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel and UNISA.
Gordin is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their two children, Jake and Nina.