Newsman, cartoonist Conrad Burke signs off

by Gunther Simmermacher · Published August 26, 2024 · Updated August 26, 2024

Conrad Burke: 1946-2024

Obituary by Günther Simmermacher

To South African television viewers in the 1990s, Conrad Burke was best known as a news reporter, instantly recognisable by his imposing build and full beard. Only a few readers of The Southern Cross knew that the man who delivered the serious news was also the creator of the humorous cartoons, signed “Conrad”, which started their run in the newspaper in 1993.

Conrad Burke ended his pilgrim journey in this world on August 22 in Cape Town at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife Lesley, whom he married in 1977, sons Kieran and Simon, and three grandchildren, Arjen, Steffen and William.

Born on May 3, 1946, as Eric Burke, Conrad was a lifelong Catholic, growing up in a council house in Plumstead, Cape Town. After his schooling at the Salesian school in Lansdowne, Cape Town, he felt a calling to the vocation as a Dominican friar. He joined the order’s priory in Stellenbosch and took the religious name Conrad. While his family still called him Eric, to the world the religious name stuck. The vocation to the consecrated life, however, did not.

Having relinquished the Dominican habit, he instead became a journalist, establishing himself in the field of broadcasting. In that role, he went on to become a senior journalist for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

For the SABC’s television news he covered South Africa’s transition to democracy, Pope John Paul II’s Mass in Johannesburg in 1995 (which he co-commentated with Dominican Father Emil Blaser), and the early days of Nelson Mandela’s presidency before he was appointed the SABC’s European correspondent, based in London.

Conrad Burke with wife Lesley and sons Kieran and Simon, who both followed their father into TV journalism.

Shoestring correspondent

By the time he got to London, the SABC’s big offices were empty — the entire shoestring operation consisted of Conrad, a cameraman, and an Internet connection. Still, Conrad Burke was always on the scene; the biggest event of his tenure was the death and funeral of Princess Diana in 1997. While in London he also had the opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth II.

After returning to South Africa, he served as the SABC’s parliamentary correspondent. Later, he set up the SABC’s 24-hour news channel, alongside Allister Sparks and CNN’s Ken Tiven.

Conrad enjoyed sharing his skills and experience in TV news production — even in-house, as both sons went on to become broadcast journalists. As project director of the Southern African Broadcasting Association, he travelled widely and provided training in several African countries, sometimes taking him away from home for lengthy intervals.

In his spare time, Conrad enjoyed trawling the junk shops for hidden treasures and dabbled in poetry, singing and painting.

Conrad cartoons from January 1995 and coinciding with the papal conclave of March 2013.

Southern Cross cartoonist

It was the latter that gave him great pleasure when his cartoons were accepted by The Southern Cross in 1993, by recommendation of then-managing editor Eugene Donnelly, an old acquaintance. Initially, the cartoons were named “Conrad’s Cassocks” and often portrayed altar servers. It was a subject Conrad often returned to even when his cartoons were published just under his first name.

Conrad’s cartoons mostly poked gentle fun at all manner of things Catholic, but sometimes they provided satirical commentary. For almost two decades, they appeared on the back page of The Southern Cross, directly below the popular columns of Owen Williams, Chris Moerdyk and Fr Ron Rolheiser. His final cartoon appeared in the last edition of the weekly newspaper, dated September 23, 2020.

Conrad was delighted when 60 of his cartoons were included in Church Chuckles: The Big Book of Catholic Jokes, published in late 2019. With typical generosity, he insisted that no royalties be paid to him, so as to support The Southern Cross.

A serious newsman on TV, in person Conrad had the impish sense of humour which Southern Cross readers knew from his cartoons. That humour was often accompanied by a big laugh, which saw him battle through several health issues with fortitude. Now the newsman has signed off.