Patrick Laurence, journalist, dies

One of South Africa’s most distinguished journalists, Patrick Laurence, has died following a long illness.

One of South Africa’s most distinguished journalists, Patrick Laurence, has died following a long illness.

He began his career more than 50 years ago with the now-defunct Rand Daily Mailin Johannesburg, which has been described as "a beacon of white liberal anti-apartheid commentary".

He became political correspondent with the Johannesburg Starand edited Focus. A regular writer for the London Observerand the Economistmagazine, he was also a long-term contributor to The Irish Times.

Laurence was arrested twice for his journalism, in the 1970s and 1990s.