NATIONAL NEWS - Esteemed, well-known and much-loved Daily Maverick senior investigative journalist, Estelle Ellis, only 51, has died.

The sad news was shared on the Eastern Cape WhatsApp group of the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) this morning.

Estelle, a multi award winning journalist and champion of the voiceless and poor, was based in Gqeberha and wrote extensively about all issues affecting South Africans and especially the people of the Eastern Cape.

Described by Sanef's Jude Mathurine as "a real warrior among Eastern Cape journos", the forum conveyed its condolences to Estelle's family and the Daily Maverick Baywatch team.

"Estelle was known by many in our small media community as a tenacious journalist who was deeply concerned about the impact of her work on the communities that she wrote about and for. 

"She leaves a legacy and will be missed by all who knew her," Mathurine wrote.

He invited Sanef members and everyone who new her well to share any thoughts or memories of Estelle, her work and how she touched lives to be used for an obituary that the forum will write.

In response to a message of condolence on the Sanef WhatsApp group, Angela Daniels, Daily Maverick's Nelson Mandela Bay Bureau Chief, said they are devastated at the loss of a close friend, a dynamic colleague and one of the best journalists this country produced. 

"To all of the many colleagues who have messaged and sent love today, we truly appreciate it."

An article on Daily Maverick about her untimely death paying tribute to this incredible journalist, says that Estelle died on Wednesday night, 5 August, but the article does not reveal how she died.

She leaves behind her parents and two sisters.

Click here to read the tribute published by Daily Maverick.

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