NEWS: Iconic South African journalist, Devi Sankaree Govender, shared devastating news over the weekend after losing her mother to breast cancer.
As South Africa remains under lockdown level four, Govender was unable to be with her family in Umzinto, south of Durban, during this trying time. Govender drove down to attend her mother’s cremation – under strict lockdown conditions – and then drove straight back to Johannesburg.
In a social media post, Govender shared a special tribute to her mother, Moganagie Govender who died at age 71. She battled breast cancer for the past seven years passing on on Monday, 11 May 2020. Govender shared the journey of her mother, Moganagie who hails from Inanda, north of Durban, married soon after matriculating from Verulam High and dedicated her life to the upbringing of her two daughters.
She read to us while we were in her belly and taught us to read before we went to school. She later told me that she had focussed her entire life on “making my girls clever.”
Devi Sankaree Govender
Govender expressed the pain of losing her mother especially during the coronavirus pandemic made it even tougher.
“Saying goodbye to a parent is already difficult. Having to do so, during a pandemic is a whole other kind of pain. But my mum was practical and she got the send-off she wanted – minimum fuss with maximum meaning.”
Sharing this photo, Govender captioned it saying,
“There is a lot of significance to this picture – it was taken 17 months ago during a live broadcast. What you see here are two smiling faces but behind that, is the story of a woman who inspired positivity, determination and independence while encouraging her girl children to always take the road less travelled.”

Here’s Devi Sankaree Govender’s original post,
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