The Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture is saddened by the news of the passing of literary giant Andre P Brink.

According to various media reports Brink died on a flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town aged 79.

In the 1960s Prof Brink was one of the key figures in the significant Afrikaans literary movement known as Die Sestigers (“The Sixty-ers”), along with Ingrid Jonker. These writers used Afrikaans as a language to speak out against the Apartheid government.

Prof Brink was also the proud author of the first Afrikaans novel to be banned by the Apartheid government.

According to a statement from the Democratic Alliance (DA) “He will be remembered for his contribution to the fight against Apartheid and for highlighting contemporary social issues in democratic South Africa through his writing.”

Xoliswa Tom, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture added “The South Africa literary sphere has lost a pioneer who used his pen to speak up against the brutality and inhumanity of the apartheid system.

“Mr Brink’s death has robbed the country and the world a voice of reason. What is amazing is that he used the language of oppression to
fight the very same oppression. The fact that he was returning from receiving an honorary doctorate from Belgium is testament to his stating
in the world.

“While the Committee is in mourning, it remains consoled by the fact that Brink made a meaningful impact in turning the fortunes of this country around. It is now upon those remaining to pick up the baton and fight against any form of injustice wherever it manifests in our country,”

The Committee is further of the view that his writings are more relevant now, as the country battles with issued of social cohesion and integration. The Committee also extends is heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and wishes them strength in this difficult time.