Breyten Breytenbach, the celebrated anti-apartheid writer, poet, and activist, has passed away at the age of 85 in Paris, his family confirmed. He died peacefully in his sleep with his wife, Yolande, by his side. Breytenbach, whose life was marked by a passionate commitment to human rights and social justice, was a key figure in the struggle against South Africa’s apartheid regime.
Born on 16 September 1939 in the Western Cape, Breytenbach was part of the Afrikaans literary movement, the Sestigers, which sought to use the Afrikaans language to critique apartheid and its injustices. Although Afrikaans was closely associated with the oppressive regime, Breytenbach famously distanced himself from the political identity tied to the language, stating that he rejected it as part of the Afrikaner political identity.
After leaving South Africa in 1960, Breytenbach lived in self-imposed exile, primarily in Europe, but continued to speak out against apartheid. His clandestine return to South Africa in 1975 led to his arrest for attempting to assist resistance groups. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, during which he continued writing poetry, including his powerful work The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist, which recounted his harrowing time in prison, including two years spent in solitary confinement.
Released in 1982 with the help of French President François Mitterrand, Breytenbach went on to become a French citizen. Despite the end of apartheid, he remained a vocal critic, even of the post-apartheid ANC government, which he believed had become corrupt.
Breytenbach’s influence extended beyond South Africa. In 2002, he wrote an open letter condemning Israel’s actions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, showing his commitment to global human rights issues.
A prolific writer, Breytenbach published over 50 books, many of which were translated into multiple languages, and was also known for his surreal paintings. His work earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by France.
He is survived by his wife Yolande, daughter Daphnée, and two grandsons.