South African writer and poet Breyten Breytenbach, a fervent critic of the former white-minority government’s apartheid policy, has passed away in Paris at the age of 85, according to his family.
Breytenbach was a renowned wordsmith, a prominent figure in Afrikaans literature, and a relentless critic of apartheid, which was enforced against the country's Black majority from 1948 to 1990. He relocated to Paris, but during a secret visit to his homeland in 1975, he was arrested on charges of aiding Nelson Mandela’s then-banned African National Congress in its sabotage efforts against the white-minority government. He was found guilty of treason and spent seven years in prison. After his release, he settled in Paris, where he continued his activism against apartheid.
Breytenbach is best remembered for “Confessions of an Albino Terrorist,” his account of his imprisonment and the events that led to it. His work often explored themes of exile, identity, and justice, as stated by his family. “Known for his masterful poetry collections in Afrikaans, as well as autobiographical works such as ‘The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist’ and ‘A Season in Paradise,’ he fearlessly addressed themes of exile, identity, and justice,” their statement read.
Breytenbach was born in the Western Cape province in 1939 but spent much of his life abroad. He joined Okhela, an ideological wing of South Africa’s African National Congress, while in exile, yet he remained deeply rooted in his South African heritage. He is survived by his wife, Yolande, daughter Daphnée, and two grandsons.
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