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At the time of his death Pikoli was working on a screen adaptation of
Born Freeloaders with Diprente Films, owned by film producer, director and comedian Kagiso Lediga.
Pikoli had published two books – an anthology of short stories
, The Fatuous State of Severity, which he wrote while undergoing psychiatric care, and his debut novel
Born Freeloaders, which was first published in 2019.
According to family spokesperson Twiggs Xiphu, the 33-year-old’s body was found by his parents, Girlie and former National Prosecuting Authority head Vusumzi (Vusi) Pikoli, in a Johannesburg flat.
“Phumlani’s parents had gone to Johannesburg, to check on him, after not getting any response from his phone,” Xiphu said in a statement.
A few years ago, my mentor and editor at the time placed a book on my table with instructions to review it. The book was by one Phumlani Pikoli whose work, I would soon discover, I would grow to love.
Aged 33, the novelist and multidisciplinary artist was found dead on Sunday.
The Pikoli family spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement this morning.
Although planning a memorial service, the family has asked that the public respect their privacy as they grieve.
Novelist and multidisciplinary artist Phumlani Pikoli died on Sunday 11 April 2021. He was 33.
“The gruesome discovery of Phumlani s lifeless body lying in bed is something that no parent needs to go through” his grieving father and former National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli said.
Best known for his work in literature, Pikoli self-published his first book, The Fatuos State of Severity in 2016. “I was told to journal instead I played out some of the most ridiculous fictions I could think of to be honest,” he once told Pan MacMillan. Written while in psychiatric care, the collection of short stories and illustrations explores the messy, laborious, layered and clumsy act of coping.