Sun sets for maverick publisher

Deon du Plesssis, founder of the tabloid newspaper Daily Sun, has died from acute bronchitis at his home in Johannesburg.

Du Plessis, 59, founded the Daily Sun in 2002 and grew it to country's biggest-selling daily newspaper.

Daily Sun's editor-in-chief Themba Khumalo, said in a statement last night that Du Plessis's death "leaves a huge void".

"He was a consummate journalist and a taskmaster of note," he said.

Richard McNeill, a former colleague and design consultant for the newspaper, said Du Plessis was "a big man in every sense of the word" who "transformed the newspaper landscape when he founded Daily Sun".

Du Plessis was a Argus Africa journalist, after which he became the editor of the Pretoria News and then managing director of Gauteng newspapers at Independent Newspapers, where he came up with the idea of the Daily Sun.

He left Independent and joined Media24, who helped fund the newspaper with him.

Another brain child of Du Plessis was the Sunday Sun.

Media24's emerging markets CEO Fergus Sampson, said Du Plessis's death was devastating.

"It is hard to imagine the Daily Sun without him."

Media24 CEO Esmare Weideman described Du Plessis as a "giant of publishing and journalism in the country".

She said in a statement last night that his sudden death came as a "great shock".

Weideman said: "It is hard to believe this larger-than-life man is gone. What he achieved with Daily Sun - not only building the newspaper into a huge financial success but more importantly giving millions of South Africans a voice - is phenomenal."

Weideman said she spoke to Du Plessis a few days ago.

"I ... expressed my admiration for the job he's done on Daily Sun over the past few years. He was pleased with the comment, in his usually gruff way," she said.

Media24 Newspapers CEO Abraham van Zyl, said Du Plessis was a "giant and pioneer" who understood the readers of the Daily Sun perfectly.

Du Plessis is survived by his wife, Vanessa, daughter, Daniella, and two grandchildren.