Cape Town Press Club pays tribute to Allister Sparks – his voice will be missed

20 September 2016  

The Cape Town Press Club notes with deep sadness the passing of veteran journalist Allister Sparks on Monday.

Allister last addressed the Cape Town Press Club earlier this year, when he spoke about his book, “The Sword and the Pen”.

Sparks observed, chronicled and participated in our country's unfolding drama for more than 66 years, covering events from the premiership of DF Malan to the presidency of Jacob Zuma, witnessing at close range the rise and fall of apartheid and the mixed results of the new South Africa.

In 2010, he delivered the Press Club’s annual Barry Streek Memorial Lecture and spoke about media freedom.

He said, “The strongest card we have to play in this brinkmanship game is the knowledge that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that any newspaper could ever publish about the Government that could do half as much damage to its reputation in the world as the act of introducing press control itself.” 

On behalf of the Committee of the Cape Town Press Club, we pay tribute to the life and legacy of Allister Sparks and extend our heartfelt condolences to his friends and family. His voice will be deeply missed.

Issued by Martin Slabbert-Capper, Vice Chairperson: Cape Town Press Club, 20 September 2016

The Cape Town Press Club is South Africa’s oldest press club. In the 40 years since its birth in 1976, it has actively worked towards the promotion of free speech by creating a platform where ideas and opinions can be shared. The Club draws its membership from the fields of media and journalism, as well as politics, public relations, and representatives from the Diplomatic Corps. For more information, visit www.capetownpc.org.za