New scandals call in to question the state of South Africa’s democracy 20 years after Mandela.
Russell Pollitt, S.J.
Russell Pollitt, S.J., is America’s Johannesburg correspondent.
A priest from the Region of South Africa, he is currently director of the Jesuit Institute South Africa. He has written for a number of publications including the Southern African Catholic Weekly "The Southern Cross”; The Southern African Quarterly Magazine “Trefoil”; The Southern African Journal “Grace & Truth” and is the religious correspondent for South Africa’s biggest online news site "Daily Maverick." He is the author of Now is the Favourable Time. Daily Reflections for Lent and has made contributions to other books including Why Do You Weep? Finding Consolation and Peace in Times of Grief.
Father Pollitt is frequently asked for commentary on church and aocial issues in South Africa. He has been interviewed on a number of networks including the SABC, eNCA, Talk702, 567 CapeTalk, BBC and the Catholic Station Radio Veritas. Prior to being director of the Jesuit Institute he served as pastor of the downtown Jesuit church in Johannesburg. He serves on the Southern African Catholic Bishop’s Conference Advisory Committee for Social Communications. Time and training permitting he is also a keen runner and has completed a number of marathons and half-marathons.
Oscar Pistorius convicted of murder
The South African paralympian will return to prison after an appeals court found him guilty of murder for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
South African bishops respond to the pope’s visit to America
The pope’s visit struck cords in Africa on a number of levels. Some of the thorniest political debates in the United States are also difficult ones in Africa.
The ‘other’ refugees: Eritreans pay the price for African and Western failure
The mounting refugee problem in Europe—often seen as a result of the Syrian war—has attracted the attention of the world’s media. But there is another, often forgotten, dimension to the crisis which has been on going for a number of years: the political instability in North Africa, Eritrea specifically.
Homo naledi, new human-like species discovered in South Africa
The discovery will, researchers claim, change our ideas about early human ancestors.
Beatification of South Africa’s First Martyr Draws Near
Benedict Daswa was brutally murdered for refusing to participate in witchcraft just nine days before the release of Nelson Mandela on Feb. 2, 1990.
SA Government “Operation Fiela”
In response to the recent spate of xenophobic attacks the South African Government launched Operation Fiela a word which means to ldquo sweep clean rdquo or ldquo clear out rdquo the rubbish Although the national police force led this operation the military were also brought in to assist Th
Precious Blood Missionary Murdered
While the world rsquo s attention was focused on the outbreak of deadly xenophobic attacks in South Africa another deplorable murder took place Eighty-six-year-old Missionary Sister of the Precious Blood Stefani Tiefenbacher was allegedly gang raped and murdered in her bedroom Police are waiting
Xenophobic violence in South Africa
Church and civil organizations are working to bring relief to victims.
Family Synod Survey South Africa
Eurocentric view of family—father, mother and children (nuclear family)—found problematic
