South African poet Breyten Breytenbach passes away aged 85

Renowned South African writer and poet Breyten Breytenbach, a prominent opponent of apartheid, has passed away in Paris at the age of 85, his family announced Sunday.

A celebrated literary figure, Breytenbach was a leading voice in Afrikaans literature, a language derived from Dutch settlers, and a fierce critic of the apartheid regime that oppressed South Africa’s Black majority from 1948 to 1990.

After moving to Paris, Breytenbach was arrested during a covert return to South Africa in 1975. Accused of aiding Nelson Mandela’s banned African National Congress, he was convicted of treason and spent seven years in prison. Upon his release, he returned to Paris, where he continued his activism.

Breytenbach’s most notable work, Confessions of an Albino Terrorist, details his imprisonment and the events surrounding it. His writing, known for its exploration of exile, identity, and justice, included acclaimed poetry collections and autobiographical works such as A Season in Paradise.

“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," his family said in a statement.

A poet, novelist, painter, and activist, his contributions left a lasting impact on South African and global arts and literature. Born in 1939 in South Africa’s Western Cape province, Breytenbach spent much of his life in exile but remained deeply connected to his homeland. He joined Okhela, an ideological arm of the African National Congress, during his years abroad.

He is survived by his wife, Yolande, his daughter, Daphnée, and two grandsons.