Renowned photographer Rashid Lombard to be laid to rest today

Renowned photographer, activist and jazz promoter, Rashid Lombard, will be buried in Cape Town today.

He passed away yesterday at the age of 74.

Lombard will be remembered for his great contribution to jazz music in the country.

He was the recipient of the National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver, which he received in 2014 for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to promoting jazz music that has put South Africa on the map for many jazz enthusiasts around the world.

Over the course of his photography career, he documented pivotal moments in South Africa’s journey to freedom, including the rise of the democratic movement in the 1980s, the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, and the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.

Paying tribute to Lombard, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country has lost a great cultural icon.

“We have lost a cultural icon who not only documented our history of struggle but made history in his own right.”

“Rashid Lombard’s fearless depiction of apartheid’s endemic inhumanity and violence and his compassionate focus on the lives of oppressed communities and disadvantaged individuals is a powerful record of our struggle for basic human rights and dignity.”

“Rashid achieved a remarkable feat with his love for the diversity and vibrancy of our nation. He did so with passion and humility that endeared him to everyone with whom he interacted and whose lives he touched. We reflect on his life with gratitude and with liberation and joy he leaves behind as his legacy,” adds Ramaphosa.

President @CyrilRamaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of renowned photographer, cultural activist and jazz organiser Rashid Lombard, who has passed away at the age of 74.

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 4, 2025