The voice of James Matthews “will ring in our consciousness”, says President Cyril Ramaphosa following the death of the poet, writer and anti-apartheid activist.
Matthews, arguably one of Silvertown’s most celebrated residents, died in his sleep on Saturday. He was 95.
President Ramaphosa’s praise is among the many tributes that have poured in for Matthews since then.
“We will remain captivated and inspired by the rage and elegance with which he articulated the stark struggles of the oppressed. We will be comforted by the many works he has left for us to revisit and by our memories of his appearances at rallies, ghoembas, the front lines of street protest and intimate circles of kindred creatives where, beret askew on his head, he would feed the souls and fighting spirit of those around him. May he now rest in peace,” said the president.
Premier Alan Winde said Matthews was much more than just a writer and poet.
“He was integral to the anti-Apartheid movement, giving a powerful voice through his writing to the oppressed. He was an important part of our province and country’s artistic fabric. He will be sorely missed and his contribution rightly celebrated. I extend the condolences of myself and our whole government to James’s family, friends, loved ones and all those who knew him. We celebrate him and the lives that he touched. We also know that he lives on through the many other artists he inspired,” Mr Winde said.
Born in District Six in 1929, Matthews worked as a journalist and wrote for a variety of publications such as the Golden City Post, the Cape Times and Drum magazine. He published his first poetry anthology, Cry Rage! (co-authored with Gladys Thomas) in 1972. It was later banned by the apartheid government, and he was detained at Victor Verster prison in 1976. He was also denied a passport for 13 years.
Through his writing, he protested against the apartheid regime and raised consciousness around oppression in South Africa. He later went on to own an art gallery in Cape Town and also established his own publishing company.
Matthews received the Order of Ikhamanga in 2004 for his achievements in literature, his contribution to journalism and his commitment to the struggle for a non-racial South Africa.
Two years ago, the Department of Arts and Culture recognised him as a “Living Human Legend” and published A Dissident Poet, a book about his life.
His friend, Hein Willemse, emeritus professor of literature and literary theory in the department of Afrikaans at the University of Pretoria, described Matthews as an extraordinary and driven person.
“He was a non-conformist who would not allow restrictive norms to hem him in. That trait often landed him in hot water even among his friends. When used positively, it led to significant cultural moments. For instance, he established the first black-owned art gallery in Cape Town, in the suburb of Athlone. His publishing house, Blac, published his own work and that of other writers.
“In old age, he often presented poetry-writing classes to learners and university students around the country. He was an important voice of dissidence during a very difficult time in the country,” Professor Willemse said.
Press Council executive director Latiefa Mobara described Matthews as her mentor when she worked at the Congress of South African Writers (Cosaw).
“He was as fit as a fiddle and a prolific poet, who would write on the spot wherever he was with a glass of red wine in hand.
“James walked everywhere and was a mischievous free-spirited bohemian. May his artist soul explore eternal creativity,” she said.
* CLICK HERE to read the speech former Athlone News reporter Chantel Erfort delivered at Matthews’ birthday celebration in 2011.
