SAâs lead fighter against Covid-19, Prof Salim Abdool Karim pays tribute to 'feistyâ Karima Brown Share Veteran journalist Karima Brown was given a special tribute by one South Africaâs leading medical advisers on the Covid-19 pandemic, Prof Salim Abdool Karim, following her death due to Covid-19 complications on Thursday. Karim joined many others, including political parties, who were united in their tributes to Brown, 53, who was laid to rest on Thursday in Johannesburg according to Islamic rites. At a separate event in Durban to commemorate Covid-19 - a year later - epidemiologist Karim urged his audience to observe a moment of silence in honour of Brown on Thursday.