Parliament erupted into a brawl just a few sentences into the president’s speech
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.
Posted inDispatches
Xenophobia: South Africa’s Dark Side
In recent weeks South Africans have once again witnessed xenophobic violence The violence broke out after a Somali shop owner in Soweto shot a 14-year old local dead The shop owner claims that the boy part of a gang of youths was trying to steal from him One of the youths dropped a gun in the p
Posted inDispatches
A South African Martyr
Benedict Daswa, a layman, was killed for his opposition to the use of traditional medicines.
Posted inDispatches
Mercy or Madness? Freeing Eugene de Kock in South Africa
Notorious apartheid-era death squad commander given parole after 20 years behind bars.
Posted inSigns Of the Times
Few Surprises, But Intimations Of Change in Election Results
On May 7, 10 days after the celebration of the anniversary of their nation’s first democratic elections in April 1994, South Africans went to the polls in the first vote since the death of Nelson Mandela last December. The African National Congress gained a 62 percent majority to retain p
Posted inFrom Our Archives
A Country in Transition: South African elections 20 years after the end of apartheid
On May 7, just 10 days after the celebration of the anniversary of the first democratic elections in April 1994, South Africans will got to the polls. These will be the first elections after the death of Nelson Mandela six months ago. Although the ruling African National Congress (A.N.C.) will undou
Posted inIn All Things, Politics & Society
Nelson Mandela: Minister of Reconciliation
Nelson Mandela not only forgave; he wanted the injured to forgive and the offenders to accept responsibility and with it the forgiveness he offered to them.