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Beloved newsreader Gillian van Houten passed away on 25 July at the age of 72.
Here’s five things to know about the beloved newsreader.
JOHN VARTY PENS EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO GILLIAN VAN HOUTEN
Gillian was a pioneering South African broadcaster and conservationist.
She was best known as a trusted SABC news anchor in the 1980s and 1990s.
She later devoted her life to wildlife conservation alongside longtime partner and former husband, renowned conservationist John Varty.
Her cause of death has not been disclosed.
Taking to social media, Varty shared a tribute to Gillian in form of a video with lots of photos of her throughout the years, writing that “your pain is gone”.
Take a look…
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GILLIAN VAN HOUTEN
- Gillian was a TV icon. She was one of South Africa’s most recognisable SABC news anchors during the 1980s and 1990s. She became a household name, delivering the evening news during a politically and socially transformative era in the country.
- Her love for conservation: After leaving broadcasting, she embraced a new path in wildlife conservation. Partnering with Varty, she worked at Londolozi Game Reserve and later at Tiger Canyons, focusing on big cat rehabilitation and environmental advocacy.
- She leaves behind three children: Shaun, Tao and Savanna, who she welcomed with Varty.
- Gillian was also an author. She wrote several books, including The Way of the Leopard, which reflected her deep connection to Africa’s wildlife.
- In her later years, Van Houten reportedly battled frontotemporal dementia, which affected her speech and memory.