Breyten Breytenbach: Life of Art and Resistance Ends at 85

Breyten Breytenbach – a celebrated South African poet, novelist, painter, and anti-apartheid activist – passed away peacefully in Paris, France on Sunday, 24 November.

His family confirmed his death at the age of 85 via a press release, describing his passing as sudden. He is survived by his wife, Yolande; daughter Daphnée; and two grandsons.

Born in 1939 in Bonnievale, Western Cape, Breytenbach emerged as a prominent literary figure in Afrikaans, renowned for addressing themes of exile, identity, and justice. He became a vocal critic of apartheid and joined Okhela, an ideological wing of the African National Congress in exile.

During a covert visit to South Africa in 1975, Breytenbach was arrested on charges of treason and sentenced to nine years in prison, of which he served seven. His imprisonment inspired his acclaimed memoir, “The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist”.

After his release in 1982, Breytenbach settled in Paris, where he continued his anti-apartheid activism while producing a prolific body of work, including “A Season in Paradise”. Despite spending much of his life abroad, he maintained strong ties to his homeland.

His legacy endures through his contributions to literature and the arts, as well as his courageous efforts to combat racial oppression in South Africa. Funeral arrangements will be announced by his family in due course.

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