Renowned South African writer, poet, and anti-apartheid activist Breyten Breytenbach died on Sunday, 24 November 2024. He was 85.
Story Summary:
- Breyten Breytenbach, renowned South African poet and anti-apartheid activist, has died at age 85 in Paris.
- Imprisoned for seven years during apartheid, Breytenbach was celebrated for his literary and artistic contributions to the fight against racial injustice.
- Tributes from global leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, honor his enduring impact on art and human rights.
Breyten Breytenbach dies: What’s the cause of death?
According to reports, Breytenbach died peacefully in his sleep in Paris, France, with his wife Yolande by his side.
No illness or prior health issues have been disclosed, and his family released a statement honouring his lifelong commitment to art, human rights, and a better world.
Breyten Breytenbach biography
Born on 16 September 1939, in Bonnievale, South Africa, Breytenbach grew up in a society deeply divided by apartheid.
He later studied fine arts at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town.
His early years in South Africa shaped his sharp critiques of racial segregation, which became central to his work.
Breytenbach moved to Paris in the 1960s, where he married Yolande Ngo Thi Hoang Lien, a French-Vietnamese citizen.
South Africa’s apartheid laws, which banned interracial marriage, barred him from returning to the country.
Despite this, he covertly returned in 1975 using a false passport and was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for high treason. His memoir, The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist, details his harrowing experiences during his imprisonment.
International pressure eventually secured his release in 1982.
A prolific writer, Breytenbach was known for his Afrikaans poetry, novels, essays, and visual art.
His works reflected his opposition to apartheid and his explorations of identity, exile, and the human condition. After the end of apartheid, he became a visiting professor and continued to engage with South Africa’s cultural and political issues.
Breytenbach also played a key role in the historic Dakar Conference in 1987, which laid the groundwork for negotiations to end apartheid.
Reactions to Breytenbach’s death
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to Breytenbach, calling him a “humanist” and lauding his courage in standing against apartheid.
“His literary assault on apartheid traversed bookstores, lecture halls, and theatre stages around the world. He was a son of Bonnievale whose legacy will inspire generations.”
Tributes poured in from the global literary and human rights communities.
Jack Lang, France’s former education minister, remembered Breytenbach as a “rebel with a tender heart” and a staunch defender of human rights.
His family described him as a militant artist who fought for a better world until his final moments.
Breytenbach leaves behind his wife Yolande, daughter Daphnée, and two grandsons, alongside a legacy as one of South Africa’s most influential voices against apartheid.
