Benjamin Pogrund
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Pogrund is a South African-born author currently living in Israel
.
Brought up in Cape Town, he began a career as a journalist in 1958, writing for the Rand Daily Mail in Johannesburg
, where he eventually became deputy-editor. The Rand Daily Mail was the only newspaper in South Africa at that time to report on events in black South Africa townships. In the course of his work he came to know the major players in the Apartheid struggle and gained the respect and confidence of leaders such as Nelson Mandela
. Pogrund's reporting of police conduct in the Sharpeville massacre
in 1960 was considered a "breakthrough. He was chief author of a 1965 series on beating and torture of black inmates. During his career reporting on Apartheid in South Africa he was put on trial several times, put in prison once, had his passport revoked and was investigated as a threat to the state by security police".
When the Rand Daily Mail ceased publication in 1985, Pogrund left for London in 1986. There he was chief foreign sub-editor of The Independent
, London
.
Pogrund immigrated to Israel
in 1997 to found Yakar's Centre for Social Concern in Jerusalem. He currently lives in Jerusalem with his wife Anne, an artist.
He was a member of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations
World Conference against Racism
in Durban
and a recipient of the 2005-06 Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Brought up in Cape Town, he began a career as a journalist in 1958, writing for the Rand Daily Mail in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, where he eventually became deputy-editor. The Rand Daily Mail was the only newspaper in South Africa at that time to report on events in black South Africa townships. In the course of his work he came to know the major players in the Apartheid struggle and gained the respect and confidence of leaders such as Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
. Pogrund's reporting of police conduct in the Sharpeville massacre
Sharpeville massacre
The Sharpeville Massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, at the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in the Transvaal . After a day of demonstrations, at which a crowd of black protesters far outnumbered the police, the South African police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69...
in 1960 was considered a "breakthrough. He was chief author of a 1965 series on beating and torture of black inmates. During his career reporting on Apartheid in South Africa he was put on trial several times, put in prison once, had his passport revoked and was investigated as a threat to the state by security police".
When the Rand Daily Mail ceased publication in 1985, Pogrund left for London in 1986. There he was chief foreign sub-editor of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Pogrund immigrated to Israel
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
in 1997 to found Yakar's Centre for Social Concern in Jerusalem. He currently lives in Jerusalem with his wife Anne, an artist.
He was a member of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
World Conference against Racism
World Conference against Racism
The World Conference against Racism are international events organised by the UNESCO to struggle against racism ideologies and behaviours. Four conferences have been held so far, in 1978, 1983, 2001 and 2009...
in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
and a recipient of the 2005-06 Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award
Books
- How can man die better: The life of Robert Sobukwe ISBN 1868420507
- Shared Histories: A Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue (Left Coast Press, 30, 2005) ISBN 1-59874-012-1
- War of Words: Memoir of a South African Journalist (Seven Stories Press,2000) ISBN 1-888363-71-1
- Sobukwe and Apartheid (New Jersey:Rutgers Univ Press,1991) ISBN 0-8135-1693-5
Children's books
- Nelson Mandela: Leader Against Apartheid (World Peacemakers) (Blackbirch Press, 2003) ISBN 1-56711-978-6
Articles (a small selection available on the Web)
- Why depict Israel as a chamber of horrors like no other in the world?
- Palestinians and Israelis must be able to meet to talk peace (from the Lebanese Daily Star)
External links
- Benjamin Pogrund Papers at Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
- Yakar's Center For Social Concern
- Inside Apartheid: The Benjamin Pogrund Collection of Southern Africa Materials
- Collection of historical papers on Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe donated to The University of the Witwatersrand Library by Benjamin Pogrund
- Israel is a democracy in which Arabs vote
- The Journalism that Midwifed the New South Africa