Renowned South African anti-apartheid author Breyten Breytenbach has passed away in Paris at the age of 85.
Breytenbach, a prolific poet, novelist, painter, and activist, was celebrated for his profound contributions to literature and the arts, both in South Africa and internationally. His family announced his death in a statement on Sunday.
He is perhaps best known for Confessions of an Albino Terrorist, a powerful memoir detailing his 1975 conviction for treason and the seven years he spent in prison under the apartheid regime.
After his release, Breytenbach settled in Paris while maintaining strong ties to his South African roots. He joined Okhela, an ideological group aligned with the African National Congress, further solidifying his role in the fight against apartheid.
A master of Afrikaans literature, Breytenbach was a leading figure in elevating the language—originating from Dutch settlers—while using his art to critique the apartheid system that oppressed South Africa’s Black majority between 1948 and 1990.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to Breytenbach on Monday, lauding him as a humanist who used his diverse artistic talents to reflect the militancy, tragedy, and resilience of South Africa’s liberation struggle.
Today we mourn the passing of Breyten Breytenbach, 85, humanist whose strident and sustained literary assault on apartheid and its enforcers and endorsers traversed bookstores, domestic bookshelves, lecture halls, art galleries and theatre stages around the world.
My thoughts… pic.twitter.com/Oxj7lvUrwI
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) November 25, 2024Born in the Western Cape in 1939, Breytenbach spent much of his life in exile, yet his works remain deeply rooted in the South African experience.
