Famous South African anti-apartheid writer, poet, and artist Breyten Breytenbach has died at 85, his family confirmed.
He passed away peacefully in Paris, with his wife Yolande by his side. Known for his powerful criticism of apartheid and fight for justice, Breytenbach was also celebrated for his artistic talents and human rights activism, according to BBC.
Breytenbach, born in South Africa’s Western Cape on September 16, 1939, was part of a group of Afrikaans writers called the Sestigers, who used literature to challenge apartheid. Although Afrikaans was often tied to the oppressive regime, Breytenbach loved the language but rejected its association with racist politics, as highlighted by BBC.
After leaving South Africa in the 1960s, he lived in self-imposed exile in Europe, marrying Yolande Ngo Thi Hoang Lien, a Vietnamese woman.
Their marriage faced apartheid’s harsh laws, which banned interracial unions. Breytenbach remained vocal from abroad, and in 1975, his secret return to South Africa to support resistance groups led to his arrest and a seven-year prison sentence.
During this time, he continued to write, producing works like The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist, an honest account of his imprisonment.
BBC notes that his release in 1982 was secured with the help of then-French President François Mitterrand, and Breytenbach later became a French citizen.
However, his activism didn’t stop with the end of apartheid. He openly criticized Nelson Mandela’s ANC government for corruption and spoke out on global issues, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Breytenbach’s legacy includes over 50 books, surreal paintings, and significant honors like France’s Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
His life was a testament to courage and creativity, as BBC beautifully described. He leaves behind his wife Yolande, daughter Daphnée, and two grandsons.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lzy87veno