South African dissident writer and poet Breyten Breytenbach dies at 85

JOHANNESBURG — 

South African writer and writer Breyten Breytenbach, a staunch hostile of the erstwhile white-minority government's apartheid argumentation of radical oppression, has died successful Paris, his household announced connected Sunday. He was 85.

Breytenbach was a celebrated wordsmith, a starring dependable successful lit successful Afrikaans — an offshoot of Dutch that was developed by achromatic settlers — and a fierce professional of apartheid that was imposed against the country's Black bulk betwixt 1948 and 1990.

He moved to Paris but connected a clandestine travel to his location state successful 1975 helium was arrested connected allegations that helium assisted Nelson Mandela's then-outlawed African National Congress radical successful its sabotage run against the white-minority government.

He was convicted of treason and served 7 years successful prison. French president Francois Mitterrand helped unafraid his merchandise successful 1982.

Upon his release, Breytenbach based himself successful Paris, becoming a French citizen, and continued his anti-apartheid activism.

Breytenbach is champion known for "Confessions of an Albino Terrorist," his relationship of his imprisonment and the events starring to it.

His enactment addressed themes of exile, individuality and justice, his household said successful a connection connected Sunday.

"Known for his masterful poesy collections successful Afrikaans, arsenic good arsenic autobiographical works specified arsenic 'The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist' and 'A Season successful Paradise,' helium fearlessly addressed themes of exile, individuality and justice," his household said successful a statement.

Breytenbach was a poet, novelist, creator and activistic whose enactment touched connected and influenced lit and the arts some domestically and abroad, his household added.

He was calved successful the Western Cape state successful 1939 but spent overmuch of his beingness abroad.

He joined Okhela, an ideological helping of South Africa's African National Congress, successful exile, but remained profoundly connected to his South African roots.

He is survived by his wife, Yolande, girl Daphnée and 2 grandsons.

Some accusation for this study came from Agence France-Presse.