Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed heartfelt condolences and reflected on Breyten Breytenbach's impactful life and legacy. Last year, Cape Town awarded Breytenbach Civic Honours for his significant contributions to poetry, literature, and his courageous stand against apartheid.
Hill-Lewis described Breytenbach as a creator of transcendent beauty, whose work captured emotions and demonstrated the power of the pen over the sword. In December 2023, Breytenbach was honored, and he recited a poignant poem during the ceremony.
Born in Bonnievale in 1939, Breytenbach was a founding member of the Sestigers, a group of Afrikaans writers who opposed apartheid. His debut poetry collection, Die Ysterkoei Moet Sweet, was published in 1964, followed by Katastrofes. Over the years, his work expanded to nearly 30 volumes of poetry and over 20 English prose works, earning numerous accolades like the Alan Paton Award and the Hertzog Prize for Poetry.
Breytenbach's activism led to his exile in France in 1960, following his marriage to Yolande Ngo Thi Hoang Lien, which was illegal under South African law. He was arrested in 1975 for re-entering South Africa with a false passport and served seven years of a nine-year sentence, including two in solitary confinement.
Hill-Lewis highlighted Breytenbach's enduring influence and commitment to justice, art, and humanity. Ricardo Mackenzie, the provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, also offered his condolences, praising Breytenbach as a brave voice against oppression and a champion of Afrikaans as a language of expression. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
