Happy 115th birthday to Alan Paton – author and anti-apartheid activist
He volunteered to fight in World War II, but he was rejected.
• Alan Stewart Paton (11 January 1903 – 12 April 1988)
Not only was Mr Paton a South African author, but an anti-apartheid activist as well. He has written two popular novels: Cry, the Beloved Country and Too Late the Phalarope.
Mr Paton was the principal of Diepkloof Reformatory for young (native African) offenders from 1935 to 1949. As principal, he enforced ‘controversial but progressive’ reforms such as open dormetories, work permits and home visitation.
Mr Paton had volunteered to fight in World War II, but he was refused. He then toured Scandinavia, England, continental Europe, Canada, and the United States to see the correctional facilities globally.
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When he arrived in Norway, he began his first book, Cry, the Beloved Country, which he managed to complete on Christmas Eve in San Francisco in 1946.
When the National Party gained power in South Africa, Mr Paton along with others, formed the Liberal Association towards the beginning of 1953 which fought against the apartheid legislation.
Mr Paton then later retired to Botha’s Hill where spent his last days.
(Source: Wikipedia)
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