by Thinus Ferreira
Celeste Phillips, a former output editor at eNCA has died from Covid-19 as a latest third wave of the global coronavirus pandemic is sweeping South Africa, fuelled by the more contagious so-called Delta-variant.
Former and current colleagues started paying tribute to the journalist who had worked at the South African public broadcaster as a former SABC News reporter and producer between January 1998 and October 2007 in Sea Point, and at Media Investments' e.tv and its TV news channel eNCA as an output editor, notably on the NewsNight programme.
Celeste Phillips who had spent various periods alternating between living and working in Johannesburg and Cape Town after she had studied journalism at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, leaves behind her husband Dominic Williamson and two little children, Quinn and Dylan.
So far there has been no statement from eNCA (DStv 403).
"Two former colleagues have lost their lives to Covid-19 in the space of a day. Rest in peace bra Dan Maswanganye and Celeste Phillips. Three deaths in 4 days, things are very real in South Africa," said Dennis Georggiannis on social media.
Former and current colleagues described Celeste Phillips as "a gentle and a kind soul" and "someone always ready with side-eye in the newsroom and the funniest curse words! She loved her kids so hard - she was so proud of them. What a gem of a human".
Robyn Smith remarked that "I hadn't seen her in years but remember her smile like yesterday. I cannot stop thinking about her children who will now grow up without their mommy".
Journalist Karyn Maughan who called Celeste Phillips "the most consistently positive and gentle person" described Celeste as "the most cheerful, kind, brave, beautiful soul. You'd give me yoghurt when I came back from a story grumpy. You shared everything you had with others. Your joy was constant. You loved your little ones SO much".
Asanda Ngoasheng, SANEF’s Western Cape Convenor, described Celeste as a kind and beautiful soul, always full of jokes and ready to smile but had zero tolerance for nonsense.
“I am heartbroken by the news of her passing. I met Celeste as a young journo when we worked together as bulletin writers at the SABC’s English news desk. She had more TV experience than me and was always happy to guide and support me in my learning in the newsroom and settling down in Johannesburg,” Ngoasheng said.
Nadia Samie-Jacobs, a former colleague at eNCA wrote: “A piece of my heart is missing, and that piece is in the shape of you, Celeste. You were a kind woman; you went out of your way to help others. You were generous. You fought for what was right. You were angered by injustice.”
