Jewish journalist awarded top South African prize for contribution to journalism

A Jewish journalist who helped expose South Africa’s apartheid system has received one of the country’s top prizes in recognition of his decades-long career.

Benjamin Pogrund, who was born in Cape Town and moved to Jerusalem in 1997, was awarded a national order by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa at a ceremony yesterday.

The Order of Ikhamanga is given to South Africans who have excelled in the arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.

Pogrund was deputy editor of the Rand Daily Mail Johannesburg before it was closed down in 1985 over its stance on apartheid.

He emigrated to the UK, where he became diplomatic editor of the Today programme and chief foreign sub-editor of The Independent.

He also worked as a South African correspondent for the Sunday Times, the Boston Globe and the Economist and helped ensure the survival of documents from the period for safekeeping.

Thousands of items, including the archives and published works of labour organisations, political parties and activities, were donated to the Centre for Research Library in Chicago.

His latest book “Drawing Fire: Investigating the Accusations of Apartheid in Israel” was published in 2014.