In brief
Breyten Breytenbach, a monumental figure in the anti-apartheid movement, has died at age 85, remembered for his fierce intellect and commitment to justice.
The literary world mourns the loss of Breyten Breytenbach, an esteemed anti-apartheid writer who passed away in his sleep at 85 in Paris, his family announced. He is remembered as a passionate advocate against the apartheid regime, having endured imprisonment for his beliefs in the 1970s. His wife Yolande was by his side when he died, and a family statement described him as "an immense artist, militant against apartheid," who fought tirelessly for a better world.Breytenbach, who was born on September 16, 1939, in the Western Cape, became a pivotal figure in the Afrikaans literary scene. He was part of a group known as the Sestigers, seeking to use their language to critique the oppressive regime. Despite the language’s association with apartheid, he famously declared his lasting love for Afrikaans while rejecting its ties to Afrikaner political identity. Breytenbach left South Africa in 1960 for self-imposed exile, expressing his discontent with the racist policies of his homeland.In 1975, he returned to South Africa under the radar, only to be captured and imprisoned for attempting to support resistance groups. His experiences behind bars inspired "The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist," a celebrated work recounting his harrowing time, including two years spent in solitary confinement. Released in 1982, with help from then-French President François Mitterrand, he became a French citizen.Even after the fall of apartheid, Breytenbach remained outspoken, criticizing Nelson Mandela's African National Congress for its perceived corruption. His fight for justice extended beyond South Africa; in 2002, he addressed Middle Eastern injustices in an open letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.Over his illustrious career, Breytenbach penned over 50 works and gained recognition for his captivating paintings. He was posthumously awarded honors, including being named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He is survived by his wife, Yolande, daughter Daphnée, and two grandsons, leaving behind an indelible mark on literature and human rights activism worldwide.
