Breyten said goodbye this morning / Breyten het vanmôre totsiens gesê

PEN Afrikaans betreur die afsterwe van Breyten Breytenbach as ‘n yslike verlies. Ons deel hier die verklaring wat deur die Breytenbach-familie uitgereik is.

Breyten said goodbye this morning

It is with deep sorrow that the Breytenbach family announces the passing of Breyten Breytenbach earlier today, Sunday 24 November 2024.

He passed away peacefully in Paris (France) at the age of 85 – with his wife Yolande by his side.

Breyten was a celebrated South African wordsmith – a poet, novelist, painter, and activist, whose work profoundly shaped literature and the arts both locally and abroad. Known for his masterful literary creations such as The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist and A Season in Paradise, he fearlessly addressed themes of exile, identity, and justice.

A vocal opponent of apartheid, Breytenbach joined Okhela, a separate ideological wing of the ANC in exile, and was imprisoned upon his clandestine return to South Africa in 1975. Despite this, his artistic and literary contributions flourished, cementing his place as one of South Africa’s most courageous and visionary figures.

Born in Bonnievale, Western Cape, in 1939, Breyten was one of five siblings – all of whom have preceded him. Breytenbach spent much of his life abroad but remained deeply connected to his South African roots…

Interestingly, since Breyten’s 80th birthday, he had been exploring denouement towards death, and expressing his uncomfortable discoveries through his art and writings. In this way he had the courage to give form to the forever formlessness from which we come, and to which we shall surely return.

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

The family appreciates the support and condolences received during this difficult time and requests privacy as they finalise funeral arrangements, details of which will be shared in due course.

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Breyten het vanmôre totsiens gesê

Dit is met diepe hartseer dat die Breytenbach-familie die afsterwe moet bekendmaak van Breyten Breytenbach vanoggend, Sondag 24 November 2024.

Hy is vanoggend (Sondag 24 November 2024) vreedsaam in die ouderdom van 85 in Parys (Frankryk) oorlede – met sy vrou Yolande aan sy sy.

Breyten was ’n gevierde Suid-Afrikaanse woordsmid – ’n digter, romanskrywer, skilder en aktivis wie se werk die letterkunde en die kunste sowel plaaslik as in die buiteland geraak en beïnvloed het. Bekend vir sy meesterlike digbundels in Afrikaans, asook outobiografiese werke  soos The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist en A Season in Paradise, het hy vreesloos temas van ballingskap, identiteit en geregtigheid aangespreek.

Breytenbach, ’n geswore teenstander van apartheid, het by Okhela, ’n aparte ideologiese vleuel van die ANC in ballingskap, aangesluit en is gevange geneem met sy klandestiene terugkeer na Suid-Afrika in 1975. Ten spyte hiervan het sy artistieke en literêre bydraes gefloreer, wat sy plek as een van Suid-Afrika se moedigste en visioenêre figure bevestig het.

Breyten, wat in 1939 in Bonnievale, Wes-Kaap, gebore is, was een van vyf broers en susters – almal het hom in die dood voorafgegaan. Breytenbach het ’n groot deel van sy lewe in die buiteland deurgebring, maar het diep verbonde gebly aan sy Suid-Afrikaanse wortels.

Interessant genoeg het hy sedert sy 80ste verjaardag ontknoping na die dood ondersoek en sy ongemaklike ontdekkings deur sy kuns en geskrifte uitgedruk. So het hy die moed gehad om gestalte te gee aan die ewige vormloosheid waaruit ons kom, en waarheen ons sekerlik sal terugkeer.

Breytenbach word oorleef deur sy vrou, Yolande, en dogter Daphnée en twee kleinseuns.

Die familie waardeer die ondersteuning en meegevoel wat gedurende hierdie moeilike tyd ontvang is en versoek privaatheid terwyl hulle begrafnisreëlings finaliseer, waarvan besonderhede mettertyd gedeel sal word.