WINDHOEK – Prominent Namibian photographer and owner of One Africa Television, Paul van Shalkwyk, 58, died when his light aircraft he was flying – a Lockwood Aircam – crashed over the weekend.
The crash took place on Saturday evening near Etosha Park in Oshikoto Region, about 75km south of Ondangwa, confirmed the Director of Aircraft Accident Investigations in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ericksson Nengola, upon inquiry yesterday.
Van Shalkwyk had been capturing Namibia on film from land and the sky for over 40 years. His keen eye won him more than 50 awards, both locally and internationally. He was regarded as a legendary photographer and filmmaker.
Nengola said the light aircraft was on its way from Eros Airport, Windhoek to Ongava.
“Rescue units found the light aircraft in the field this morning at around 5 o’clock. The plane was reported missing on Saturday,” he said.
“Only one person was on the plane,“ he added.
Speaking in his capacity as a former director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa), Kaitira Kandjii said the loss of Van Schalkwyk “is immense and deep”.
“It’s deep scar that is difficult to heal … Paul was a man of pioneering mind and adventurous spirit … a man who cut a deep spoor in the media landscape in this country,” said Kandjii.
Kandjii said Van Shalkwyk was the first Namibian to open up the broadcasting space in the country with the establishment of the first private Namibian TV company.
“He also played a vital role in the film industry and pioneered wildlife photography,“ he said.
Kandjii said the many who worked with him or were inspired by his work and spirit should be consoled by his everlasting legacy and world-class work that won him many awards.
The Lockwood Aircam is a twin-engine experimental home built aircraft that can fly 10 feet above the tree tops, then climb up and away on one engine if needed.
Last year internationally acclaimed South Africa filmmaker Richard Mathews and Mike Berry were killed when their Rally 105 aircraft crashed into the mountains north-east of Puros in the Kunene Region.
Mathews was renowned for his work for the BBC, among others.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa