Anti-apartheid author Breyten Breytenbach dies at 85

Breyten Breytenbach, the acclaimed anti-apartheid writer and activist who was incarcerated for his convictions in South Africa during the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 85, his family announced. He died peacefully in his sleep in Paris, with his wife, Yolande, by his side. A statement from his family described the dissident poet, novelist, and painter as “an immense artist, militant against apartheid, he fought for a better world until the end.” Breytenbach’s keen intellect garnered widespread admiration, leading the British satirical television puppet show Spitting Image to characterize him in a song as “the only nice South African” during the most severe period of apartheid. Jack Lang, France’s former education minister, posted a sincere homage on X, stating, “A rebel with a tender heart, he was part of all the struggles for human rights.” Breytenbach was born into a family of five in the Western Cape on September 16, 1939. Although he spent a significant portion of his life overseas, he consistently maintained a connection to his South African heritage. He studied at the University of Cape Town and became a member of the Sestigers, a collective of Afrikaans poets and writers dedicated to showcasing the language’s aesthetic qualities while simultaneously criticizing the discriminatory apartheid system. Afrikaans developed among white settlers and derives its name from the Dutch term for African. As Afrikaners held power during apartheid, the language grew increasingly linked to the repressive government. In a discussion with The New York Times, he stated: “I’d never reject Afrikaans as a language, but I reject it as part of the Afrikaner political identity. I no longer consider myself an Afrikaner.” In 1960, he departed South Africa for a voluntary exile, primarily in Europe, yet he persisted as an outspoken opponent of the apartheid government. He spent some time working in London before establishing himself in France, where he encountered his Vietnamese wife, Yolande Ngo Thi Hoang Lien. Breytenbach attempted to re-enter South Africa with his wife in the 1960s, but her visa application was rejected due to her being classified as “non-white.” At that time, interracial marriages were prohibited by law. In 1975, during the peak of his literary renown, he secretly returned to South Africa, where authorities apprehended him for endeavoring to assist resistance organizations within the nation. He received a seven-year prison sentence for terrorism, but he carried on composing poetry throughout his incarceration. The then-French President, François Mitterrand, played a role in securing his release in 1982, after which he acquired French citizenship. His period of incarceration led to one of his most significant creations, the novel *The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist*, which offers a grim depiction of his seven-year prison term, including two years spent in solitary confinement. Following the conclusion of apartheid, he emerged as an an outspoken critic of Nelson Mandela’s liberation government. He expressed the view that the African National Congress (ANC) had transformed into a “corrupt organisation”. The poet utilized his writing not only to combat injustices within South Africa but also globally. In 2002, he authored an open letter published in The Guardian, addressed to Ariel Sharon, who was then the Prime Minister of Israel. Regarding the continuing dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, he penned: “Why should we look the other way when it is Israel committing crimes? A viable state cannot be built on the expulsion of another people who have as much claim to that territory as you have.” Throughout his life, Breytenbach released more than 50 books, with several being translated into various languages. He is additionally recognized for his surrealist paintings, which frequently portray humans and animals in confinement. Subsequently, he was honored as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, France’s most prestigious cultural accolade. Breytenbach is survived by his wife, Yolande; his daughter, Daphnée; and two grandsons.