Retired former Citizen editor MA ”Johnny” Johnson died in his sleep at his Highlands North home in Johannesburg early on Wednesday morning.
Johnson edited the Citizen from shortly after its first publication in September 1975 until his retirement five years ago. He would have celebrated his eightieth birthday in March.
He also was a former editor of the now defunct Sunday paper, the Sunday Express.
”Although he was often difficult to work with, he was the best newspaperman this country ever produced,” said a founder member and current picture editor of the Citizen Wessel Oosthuizen.
Johnson leaves three daughters and his wife Cecily. – Sapa