Joburg mourns cultural powerhouse Maria McCloy

The South African entertainment and fashion industry is mourning the loss of trailblazing media personality Maria McCloy, who has died at the age of 50 following heart failure. McCloy passed away at a Johannesburg hospital on Tuesday evening, with her family confirming the heartbreaking news on Wednesday. Born in the UK to a Mosotho mother and English father, McCloy became one of South Africa’s most influential creative voices - celebrated as a DJ, fashion designer, publicist and cultural tastemaker who helped shape Johannesburg’s creative scene for decades. Tributes continue to pour in for the beloved icon whose impact stretched across music, media and fashion. Phemelo speaks some McCloy’s close friends broadcaster Azania Mosaka and poet and author Lebo Mashile.