Mr. Breytenbach was a celebrated writer, an important voice in Afrikaans literature (a language of Dutch origin that had developed in South Africa) and a fierce critic of apartheid. He spent seven years in prison in the 1970s for treason upon returning from his Parisian exile.
“Known for his masterful collections of poetry in Afrikaans, as well as his autobiographical works, such as “True Confession of an Albino Terrorist” and “A Season in Paradise,” he fearlessly addressed themes of exile, identity and justice,” his family said in a statement.
Mr. Breytenbach was a poet, novelist, painter and activist whose work touched and influenced literature and the arts both at home and abroad.
He was born in the Western Cape province in 1939, but spent much of his life abroad.
He joined Okhela, an ideological wing of the African National Congress, a South African party, during his exile. He still remained deeply linked to his South African roots.
He leaves to mourn his wife, Yolande, his daughter Daphnée and two grandsons.
Senegal
