John Liebenberg
John Arthur Liebenberg (3 March 1958 – 16 February 2020) was a South African photojournalist, known for documenting Namibia's independence struggle. He was one of the founding staff members and photographer at The Namibian.
Also recorded as John Arthur Liebenberg
John Liebenberg
- Name
- John Liebenberg
- Born
- 3 March 1958
- Birthplace
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Died
- 16 February 2020
- Occupation
- Photojournalist
- Nationality
- South Africa
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
John Arthur Liebenberg (3 March 1958 – 16 February 2020) was a South African photojournalist, known for documenting Namibia's independence struggle. He was one of the founding staff members and photographer at The Namibian.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
John Liebenberg (1958–2020) was a South African photographer. The photographer was born and died in Johannesburg. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for John Liebenberg. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q55740838 · wikipedia · John Liebenberg
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — John Liebenberg • Born — 3 March 1958 • Birthplace — Johannesburg, South Africa • Died — 16 February 2020 • Place of death — Johannesburg, South Africa • Citizenship — South Africa • Occupation — Photojournalist
Early life and work
Early life and work
Liebenberg was born in 1958 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and since the age of two he had spent time in an orphanage in Johannesburg. His father had placed him and his sister in the orphanage for various reasons. At 18 years old he was conscripted as a soldier and sent to Namibia in 1976. Liebenberg had married in 1984 to Ute, an accomplished violinist. After three children, he and Ute divorced. He then married Inge Kühne in 2005, but they too divorced. Liebenberg was an established news photographer whose works have been exhibited in Africa and Europe. He documented the South African Border War (preferably called Namibian War of Independence) that preceded Namibia's independence in 1990, Liebenberg also worked as a photographer in the Angolan Civil War, and was later employed as a magazine and freelance photographer in South Africa. In 2010 he co-authored a book with Patricia Hayes: Bush Of Ghosts: Life And War In Namibia 1986-90.
Death
Death
He was admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg after he broke his leg in a fall on 10 February 2020. He died on 16 February 2020 at age 61 in Johannesburg, South Africa, following complications in his recovery from surgery.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1958
John Liebenberg born at Johannesburg.
2020
John Liebenberg died at Johannesburg.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Photographer John Liebenberg has died. NBC.
- 2.Namibian, The. A Man Who Photographed War And Suffering. The Namibian.
- 3.John Liebenberg. www.afronova.com.
- 4.The Namibian struggle for independence – 1966 – 1990 – a historical background. South African History Online. 2015-06-29.
- 5.Namibian, The. Liberation war photographer John Liebenberg dies. The Namibian.
- 6.Namibian, The. Photographer John Liebenberg remembered for iconic images. The Namibian.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Photography
11,392 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- John KounsPhotographer
- John L. GauntPhotographer
- John L. GihonPhotographer
- John LehrPhotographer
- John LindrosPhotographer
- John LoengardPhotographer
- John M. AllegroPhotographer
- John MacleanPhotographer
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by John Liebenberg?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.