RIP Naufal Khan

Khan was a journalist and writer and started the South African-based digital Indian news service Indian Spice when he desired to read the stories that he was interested in. He plied his craft at the Sunday Times, Thompsons Travel and Independent Newspaper, always nurturing the dream of a relevant publication that spoke to the Indian community in South Africa, in all its diversity.

He has been described as a person who served the truth with unflinching courage and called out injustice wheresoever he found it. He dedicated the last four years to Indian Spice, growing it into a large online platform that consistently broke big stories, gave the Indian market the blend of news that they wanted and was itself the topic of many mealtime conversations. He served the truth with unflinching courage and called out injustice wheresoever he found it.

He fought to the end and finally found peace after a long stay in critical care. "We will mourn him, and celebrate this legend of what he has achieved as the chronicle of the South African Indian community in the 21st century, holding up a mirror to its richness and challenging it to be more open, more proud, more fair," said Derek Abdinor, head of Media, Management and Advocacy at ACME.

His long-time friend and Media Specialist in the public sector, Sureshinee Govender said: “His bravery and courage and the sense of deep humanity for all living creatures were rare. Naufal embraced all religions and was an example to all of us not to use religion to sow divisions but to unite in service to humanity.”

Tributes have poured in from thousands of his friends, fellow journalists, followers of his Indian Spice and those individuals whose cause he took up.
"We will mourn him and celebrate what he has achieved as the chronicle of his community," said Derek Abdinor, Khan's partner in Adishakti Media.
"His standard as the modern digital storyteller and the impact that a truthful voice can have will inspire generations."

He was a contributor and supporter of MambaOnline. “His death is a tragic loss to both the Indian and the LGBTQ communities in South Africa,” said MambaOnline’s editor Luiz De Barros.

Nivashni Nair, Sunday Times senior journalist who knew Khan for more than 15 years said: “It came as no surprise that, after many years of working at various media houses, Naufal would go on to be the editor, creative mastermind and soul of an award-winning website which found success on all social media networks.”

Khan thrived on breaking stories on his investigative stories often led to arrests and convictions.

Sanef also extended its deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.