Jani Allan

Jani Allan (11 September 1952 – 25 July 2023) was a South African journalist, columnist, writer, broadcaster, and media personality.

In 1980, Allan became a columnist for a centrist newspaper, the ''Sunday Times'', South Africa's most widely circulating weekly newspaper. She published columns such as ''Just Jani'', ''Jani Allan's Week,'' and ''Face to Face''. In 1987, Allan was the top choice in a newspaper commissioned Gallup poll collecting data on "The most admired person in South Africa". In 2015, Marianne Thamm of the ''Daily Maverick'' described Allan as having been "the most influential writer and columnist in the country."

Allan later became the subject of press interest over the nature of her relationship with an interview subject, Eugène Terre'Blanche over Nick Broomfield's documentary, '' The Leader, His Driver and the Driver's Wife''. Broomfield denied raising affair allegations and a team of witnesses was flown in from South Africa to support both sides. Allan lost the suit, with the judge declining to state that anyone had lied in court.

After a brief stint working at her newspaper's London bureau, she began writing freelance columns for British publications and published a regular column for '' Scope''. She returned to South Africa in 1996, publishing a sponsored web column and presenting a radio show on Cape Talk. After an extended break she returned to the South African media frame in 2013. In 2014, Allan made headlines around the world after publishing an open letter to accused murderer Oscar Pistorius. Jacana Media published Allan's memoirs, '' Jani Confidential,'' on 16 March 2015. She continued to write on a freelance basis for South African publications such as
''Rapport'', the ''Daily Maverick'', '' Fair Lady'' and '' The Big Issue South Africa''. She also wrote occasionally for '' The Epoch Times'' and '' RT'' (formerly ''Russia Today''), the Russian broadcaster and news agency. Allan lived in the United States from 2001 until her death from cancer in 2023."'We have lost a phenomenal writer': Columnist, journalist Jani Allan dies"
News24.com. 26 July 2023.

Early life

Allan was adopted by a wealthy British-South African couple, John Murray Allan and Janet Sophia Henning, at the age of one month.Jani het van kleins af fantastiese verbeelding gehad, sê ma
Beeld. 27 July 1992 Allan's adoptive father, a former sub-editor of the Johannesburg daily '' The Star,'' died when she was 18 months old. Her mother was an antiques dealer with a store in Randburg. Allan was raised by Henning and her second husband, Walter Eric-Monteith Fry. The couple fostered three more children, one of whom sexually abused Allan. The family lived in Randburg before moving to Bryanston in Sandton. Allan attended Franklin D. Roosevelt Primary School in Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg, as well as Blairgowrie Primary School in Randburg, where one of her contemporaries was the writer Rian Malan.

Allan later attended Roedean School and graduated from Greenside High School. She was a trained classical pianist, recorded a televised piano concerto as a child,Streak, Diana. "Victim or Vixen?" nterview Fair Lady, 28 May 1997 and made her debut with Johannesburg symphony orchestra at the age of 10.

She earned a BA Honours degree in Fine Art at the University of the Witwatersrand where she also obtained an H.E.D. Post-grad Teaching Diploma. British newscaster Michael de Morgan opened the exhibition that was attended by art critic and watercolour artist Richard Cheales.

Career

Prior to becoming a journalist, Allan worked as a photographic model and an English and Art teacher at Wynberg Boys' High School, Bryanston High School, and Sevenoaks Finishing School. In 1975 she was a finalist in the 1975 Miss South Africa competition, and her photographs were published by the ''Sunday Times''. Allan's first published work was a series of classical music reviews for '' The Citizen''.

1980–1989: ''Sunday Times''

In 1980, Allan was employed by editor Tertius MyburghWavell, Stuart. People: Jani Allan "Writer haunted by a hunk with blowtorch eyes" nterview Sunday Times. 28 January 1990 to write a column for the ''Sunday Times,'' then the nation's biggest-circulating weekly newspaper. Later, in the main body of the ''Sunday Times'' newspaper, she also began publishing ''Radio Jani'', her music reviews. She also had a nightly pop news spot on the David Gresham show on Springbok Radio. In 1986 she began publishing ''Jani Allan's Week'' in the main newspaper. She would report on parties hosted by South Africa's elite and continue to interview famous figures.

A year later Allan was in Mauritius covering the Marlin fishing when the Helderberg South African Airways Flight 295 crashed east of the island. Allan and her colleague Geoff Allan were the first journalists at the airport. The ''Sunday Times'' published their joint report on the crash that killed everyone on board.

Allan was voted "the most admired person in South Africa" in a Gallup poll commissioned by the ''Sunday Times'' in 1987. ''Daily Maverick'' writer Marianne Thamm supports this view, describing Allan as "once the most influential writer and columnist in the country."

In 1988, her bosses replaced ''Jani Allan's Week'' with "Face to Face", a profile column with greater focus on political subjects. As South Africa became increasingly isolated in the international community because of apartheid, she interviewed political players such as Eugène Terre'Blanche, Denis Worrall, and Mangosuthu Buthelezi.Rooi Jani, die spy
Rapport. 20 February 2000

Assassination attempt and emigration

Following an assassination attempt on her life in 1989, secret service agents advised her to leave South Africa. She resumed work for the Johannesburg newspaper from their London office. In London, Allan launched a new column for the newspaper titled ''Jani at Large'' with the tag-line ''Jani Allan - Reporting from London''. After six weeks in London, Allan returned to work at the Johannesburg office. After a week back at work, Allan was asked to hand in her resignation as she had "become the story". Allan's tenure at the newspaper ended in September 1989.

1990–1996: London

By 1990, Allan had become a regular columnist for the South African weekly magazine, '' Scope'', launching the self-titled ''Jani Allan'' column from her base in London. At the peak of its success, ''Scope'' had the largest circulation of any English-language magazine in South Africa. An article written by Allan on 5 October 1990, volume 25, number 20 in the magazine was presented by the MP Dries Bruwer to the South African parliament in 1991 in support of a legislation issue.

In 1990, she also worked as an occasional society columnist for the (London) ''Sunday Times'', interviewing personalities such as Charlton Heston for the newspaper and publishing opinion pieces for the newspaper.

Allan later worked for the SABC broadcaster and journalist Cliff Saunders's London press agency and interviewed South African and European political figures such as Jean-Marie Le Pen. Allan was also published by the London ''Evening Standard'' where she published reports on George Carman's latest case, in which Carman was defending ''The People'' against a libel case taken by Mona Bauwens. She also wrote for ''The Spectator'' where she described Carman as "a small bewigged ferret." She published opinion pieces in the ''Daily Mail'' and British conservative magazine ''The Salisbury Review''. She did research for and contributed to the anti-fascist magazine ''Searchlight''.

The book that had been embroiled in controversy during the libel case because of its content was titled ''White Sunset'', and had right-wing groups in South Africa as its subject. It was alluded to in 1988 during her association with Terre'Blanche. In 1992 her agent described it to the British media as "a very serious look at the break-up of white society in South Africa" which features "fly-on-the-wall reportage". Several chapters had been seen and cover art had been developed but the project was ultimately not pursued. She had also completed ''Fast Cars to Ventersdorp'', a satirical look at her involvement with Terre'Blanche. It was compared to the style of Tom Sharpe and in the foreword she explained that she had written it because "I want to leave the past behind me."Wavell, Stuart. "The trials of Jani Allan", ''The Sunday Times'', 9 August 1992. p. 5/1 In 1995, she gave a primetime interview to SABC.

1996–2001: return to South Africa

Allan's return to South Africa in 1996 was marked by an appearance on the cover of ''Style'' magazine and an in-depth interview.

In the same year she took up a position as a host on Cape Talk Radio, a Cape Town-based radio show, and launched her show ''Jani's World'', which aired on Friday evenings between 9 p.m. and midnight. Well-known political and entertainment figures appeared on her show including Constand Viljoen,Rhodesian Premier Ian Smith, and American film actress Faye Dunaway. The ''Mail & Guardian'' praised the way in which the "no guts no glory" content creates a refreshing, witty forum".

Soon after establishing the radio show in Cape Town, she was contracted by MWEB to launch the website "CyberJani" with a weekly column, letters page and live chatline. The stated mission of the column was to provide "all the truth that is unfit to print and equally offensive to the left, the right and the centre". Allan tackled a variety of subjects such as Affirmative action and gender issues. She also published a social diary.

In 1998, Allan appeared in the SABC documentary film, '' Red Jacket'' to discuss the South Africa-based Russian artist, Vladimir Tretchikoff known for painting the '' Chinese Girl''.

In the same year she made another screen appearance as a Parisian model in the Pieter-Dirk Uys comedy, ''Going Down Gorgeous''.

Allan's radio show, ''Jani's World,'' became one of the station's most popular, but attracted controversy in September 1999 when Allan interviewed American right-winger Keith Johnson of the Militia of Montana. Johnson expressed several controversial and offensive opinions. Allan distanced herself from Johnson's views and apologised for the offense caused to Jewish listeners. Due to the negative reaction from individual listeners and from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the station was instructed to issue an apology two days later. Allan left the radio station in October 2000. From 2000 to 2001, she was a speechwriter for Buthelezi.

2001–2012: United States

Between 2004 and 2005, Allan wrote on a freelance basis for titles such as WorldNetDaily. As a personal interest, she also worked as a published astrologer. In 2006, Allan's controversial Terre'Blanche column was republished in the book ''A Century of Sundays: 100 Years of Breaking News in the Sunday Times''. The book included details of the libel case and reproduced reportage about the case.

2013–2023 ''Jani Confidential'' and freelance

In 2013, Allan was approached as a subject for a magazine article following "yesterday's media icons." Allan joined Twitter and started publishing a new blog titled ''My Grilling Life''. She regularly wrote satirical pieces about her experiences in the restaurant where she once worked. In October 2013, she was the subject of a profile piece by the ''Mail & Guardian'' newspaper titled "The Return of Jani Allan". Allan announced to the newspaper a new media project, an interactive biography project about her life and South Africa. In conjunction she launched a new self-titled website.

On 16 October, Allan made a morning radio programme appearance on the Redi Thlabi show, broadcast on Johannesburg's Radio 702 and Cape Town's '' Cape Talk''. On 27 October, an interview with Allan was published in the Business Times section of her former newspaper, the ''Sunday Times''.

In September 2014, ''Dekat'', an upmarket South African lifestyle magazine published in English and Afrikaans, featured a column by Allan. Allan's column was part of the magazine's 1980s edition and is a letter from Allan to her younger self.

In October 2014, the ''Daily Maverick'' published Allan's column titled "I refuse to be the poster child of slut-shaming" in which Allan takes issue with comments made by '' City Press'' editor Ferial Haffajee.I refuse to be the poster child of slut-shaming
''Daily Maverick'', 2 October 2014. Allan's column was supported by the respected journalist and sexual abuse victims activist, Charlene Smith. Smith described it as an "important, critical piece" and referred to Haffajee's reference as "thoughtless and cruel." Smith continued to describe Allan as "one of South Africa's great writers, and now ... one of South Africa's generations of brave women who speak up loudly and clearly about the harm they experience." Later that month the Afrikaans newspaper, ''Rapport'' published an interview with Allan. On 1 January 2015, her former employer the ''Sunday Times'' published her hopes for 2015 in a feature that focuses on the South African Twitterati, some of the most popular social media personalities.

In June 2015, the ''Daily Maverick'' published Allan's op-ed piece on forgiveness. June also saw the publication of Allan's guest column in ''The Big Issue'' South Africa that was marketed as the Just Jani Allan column on the front cover.

In July 2015, Allan became a regular columnist at ''BizNews''. In November 2015, the ''Daily Maverick'' published Allan's op-ed piece on feminism in popular culture. Cape Town academic Rhoda Kadalie praised the "well-written" piece "on feminism because it is truly controversial in many ways. Jani deals with the nexus of race, sex, wealth and beauty as pertains to the entertainment industry and her critiques are valid." Allan's column for the special annual edition of the ''Big Issue South Africa'' was published in December 2015. That same month, the ''Daily Maverick'' published Allan's widely circulated open letter column to her former editor, Tertius Myburgh. Allan wrote the column following the revelation of several spy allegations against Myburgh.

In August 2018, she wrote a cover story for the ''Weekliks'' supplement of ''Rapport'' and retold her experiences meeting the late Magnus Malan in light of the Bird Island scandal. In October of the same year she wrote a long-form piece for ''Fair Lady'' magazine about her second marriage.

In April 2019, ''Rapport'' published a guest piece by Allan for the upcoming 2019 South African general election. In the piece, Allan expressed support for Helen Zille and Mangosuthu Buthelezi. In 2020, Allan wrote more regularly for ''Rapport''. The newspaper published Allan's obituary piece for Sol Kerzner and a piece she wrote about COVID-19 in the United States, both cover stories for the ''Weekliks'' supplement. She also wrote for the newspaper about Joe Biden sexual assault allegation and Black Lives Matter protests in United States.

In April 2020, Allan began writing opinion columns for RT (formerly Russia Today), the Russian TV network and news agency.

An interview with Allan and an extract from her memoirs, '' Jani Confidential'' was published in the February 2015 edition of ''Fair Lady''. On the weekend of 28–29 March, Jani Confidential was serialized by '' The Weekend Argus'' and by ''Rapport'' on 29 March 2015.

Serializations were also published by the ''Sunday Tribune'' and the ''Sunday Independent''. On 30 March, '' The Star'' published an extract from the book.

Allan's memoirs were positively reviewed by Marika Sboros, an ex-'' Rand Daily Mail'' reporter now writing for BizNews. ''"Allan's memoirs are well written, punctuated with her characteristic style: the surgical journalistic precision, creativity, biting wit, bitchiness, and black humour aimed as much at herself as others ... There is an overwhelming unadorned, painful honesty and openness in her version of events and minutiae of the detail, a compelling coherence throughout."'' Sboros then commended the apolitical nature of the memoirs, citing the honesty of her privileged white upbringing: "She comes across as what she was at the time: not just a babe, but a foetus in the woods of South African apartheid politics."

Radio 702 journalist, Jenny Crws-Williams was also enthusiastic, saying that it "has to be a bestseller: tightly written, moving, funny & horrifying in one great cracker that keeps spilling out surprises." Allan's former ''Sunday Times'' colleague Gus Silber described the memoir as "A tragi-karmady of epic proportions. A tale of an epoch. So vividly & elegantly told."

Rebecca Davis, a high-profile columnist at the ''Daily Maverick'' described the book as "truly, truly fascinating."

Writing in the ''Daily Maverick'', Marianne Thamm echoed Sboros' sentiment that the affair allegations with Terre'Blanche were untrue. Thamm describes the interview with Terre'Blanche as "misunderstood" and a tool in the "manufactured scandal." She praises the memoir as "searing in its honesty and insight, hilarious and unforgiving." Thamm continues: "It is a portrait of a time and a place, delicately (and often hilariously) captured by a woman who remains undoubtedly once of the most talented writers to emerge from that decade." Thamm concludes that "Allan herself is a survivor, one of those people who, in losing it all, gained herself and more."

Allan's memoir has also been well received in the Afrikaans press. Herman Lategan's book review appeared in '' Volksblad'', '' Beeld,'' and ''Die Burger''. Lategan wrote that Allan had been betrayed by "Judas friends" over jealousy and that she had been unfairly treated by a "patriarchal and chauvinistic media". He argues that Allan gave the conservative community ammunition as she was a target as an "outspoken" female figure in the public arena. She does not fit the mould of conservative women in South Africa as she is instead "a cosmopolitan mix of Sandton kugel, Mata Hari, Marlene Dietrich and Camilla Parker Bowles". Lategan describes the memoir as "a journal of treachery, malice and a mirror on South African society".

Len Ashton, Allan's former ''LifeStyle'' editor at the ''Sunday Times,'' reviewed Jani Confidential for the South African magazine, ''Noseweek''. Ashton writes that ''Jani Confidential'' is "a page-turning memoir. Those who knew the columnist in her triumphant previous incarnation will be staggered by this tale of astonishing endurance. And wry humour." Ashton also mirrors other reviews by regarding the affair allegations against " llan,a fascinating woman", as "the humourless PC view."

Oscar Pistorius

On 14 April 2014, Allan published an open letter to Oscar Pistorius. Allan described the sports star as a "faux hero" and suggested that he had taken acting lessons in preparation for his court appearance. Allan also compared Pistorius with Eugène Terre'Blanche'', '' The Citizen'', ''Biz News'', and other news websites. The column was also reported on by other media titles such as ''Beeld''. Canada's ''Globe and Mail'' also reported on the effect of the column, publishing quotes and a link to the full text. The story has also garnered attention in the United States, with reports appearing in the ''New York Post'', ''Time'', UPI, and on Perez Hilton's website.

On 21 April 2014, Fox News broadcast an interview with Allan. Allan reiterated her belief that Pistorius had taken acting lessons and highlighted his alleged relationship with a 19-year-old in that year. A spokesperson for the Pistorius family has denied the claim that Pistorius took acting lessons. Anneliese Burgess, the media manager for the Pistorius family said the claims were "fictitious" and "totally devoid of any truth."

Burgess continued "We deny in the strongest terms the contents of her letter in as far it relates to our client and further deny that our client has undergone any acting lessons or any form of emotional coaching." Allan's claims have been reported internationally, appearing in respected newspapers such as France's ''Le Figaro'', Spain's ''El País,'' and Italy's ''La Stampa''.

Allan's piece also affected the case proceedings. Social worker Yvette van Schalkwyk said that she decided to testify in Pistorius' defence after reading what was said about the athlete in the media. Van Schalwyk alluded to Allan's column when she explained her motives: "What upset me was the fact that they said he had acting training, that he just put on a show and just started crying when it was needed."

Animal rights advocacy

On social media, Allan describes herself as an "animal rights activist." Her recent journalism reflects a concern for animal welfare issues. In November 2013, she focused attention on a controversial photograph of US TV personality and trophy hunter Melissa Bachman posing with a dead lion in South Africa. Allan was vocal about the photograph on social media and published an open letter to Bachman. Allan's piece went viral, garnering over 1 million page views. Later that month, the South African media reported on Allan's criticism of Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez after the pair published a photo of a zebra they had hunted.

Allan's involvement in animal rights advocacy and journalism began in 1990s when she was working as a ''Cape Talk'' presenter and ''Mweb'' columnist. On air she championed the cause of the Lipizzan when a local dressage school faced closure, then educated listeners on the devastating horrors committed against horses as part of gang initiation practices in the Western Cape. She has also discussed the work of the Cape Horse Protection Society and invited representatives onto her show. She also worked for the Domestic Animal Rescue Group.

In Allan's memoir, ''Jani Confidential'', she provides metaphors for the way we treat animals. She highlights the brutality of Marlin fishing, having reported on Marlin fishing events for the ''Sunday Times''. She is also critical of bullfighting, recounting her experience of being invited by an ex-boyfriend to the San Fermin running of the bulls festival in Pamplona.

Personal life

In 1973, Allan was a student at the University of the Witwatersrand when she met her first husband, finance magnate and art collector Gordon Schachat. They married in Mauritius in 1982 and shared a home in Linksfield Ridge, an upscale Jewish area in Johannesburg's northern suburbs. Their two-year marriage ended in divorce in 1984. Allan attributed her burgeoning career as a factor: "I was obsessed with my column. I was intent on becoming the best journalist in the country."Allan, Jani. (2015). ''Jani Confidential''. Jacana. pp. 46 They remained friends and Schachat supported Allan's testimony in the 1992 libel suit she brought against Channel 4 in London. Allan told a London court that eight years after their marriage breakup, Schachat was her closest friend and described their union as "the right people at the wrong time."

Allan became a born-again Christian in 1994. She returned to South Africa two years later at the urging of her then-partner, Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, an IFP MP and Italian expatriate.

She emigrated to the United States in 2001. The following year she married Dr. Peter Kulish, an American proponent of magnet therapy, biomagnetic therapy. The couple divorced in 2005.

After their divorce, Allan worked as a waitress in New Jersey. In July 2017, Allan wrote a widely circulated column about her financial situation and ageism in the workplace. Her column was republished by BizNews and widely quoted in the South African press. Allan appeared on the front page of both the ''Sunday Times'' and '' Beeld'' newspaper. Her former newspaper devoted page three to their former columnist. In August, Huisgenoot published a profile on Allan. In response, Allan's fans rallied around her and started a GoFundMe to support Allan financially, raising over US$4000 for the columnist.

Death

Allan died from cancer in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on 25 July 2023, at the age of 70.Jani Allan, South African-born journalist who lost ‘the libel case of the century’ – obituary
The Telegraph. 28 July 2023

Eugène Terre'Blanche and libel case

In December 1987, she was asked at an editorial conference to "go and have tea" with the right-wing militant Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging leader Eugène Terre'Blanche

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