South African playwright Athol Fugard passes away

Renowned South African playwright, actor and director Athol Fugard has died at the age of 92 at his Stellenbosch home after a long illness.

10 Mar 2025

Source: www.npr.org

Named the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world by Time magazine in 1989, the Eastern Cape-born Fugard wrote about the dawning of his political awareness of the destructive forces of apartheid on humaneness and about the resilience of ordinary people.

He grew up poor with his mother being the family of five's breadwinner, running a Gqeberha boarding house, and later a tea room in the then popular St George's Park that provided the setting for one of his most popular plays, Master Harold ... and the Boys (1982).

He shot to fame internationally with Blood Knot (1961). Other well-known works include Boesman and Lena (1969), Sizwe Banzi is Dead (1972), The Island (1972), Tsotsi (1980) and The Road to Mecca (1984).

Fugard Theatre celebrates Athol Fugard's 85th birthday with The Road to Mecca

Terry Levin 9 Apr 2018

Fugard received the order of Ikhamanga (Silver) in 2004 and in 2010, the Fugard Theatre, named after him, was opened in Cape Town’s District Six.

Fugard celebrated his 92nd birthday in June 2024 with his second wife, academic and playwright Paula Fourie, with whom he had two children, Halle and Lanigan.

Tributes have been pouring in...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to world-renowned actor, novelist and playwright Athol Fugard who passed away on Sunday in Stellenbosch. https://t.co/VpqrEU5SQW #AtholFugard
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) March 10, 2025

You had me at Hello...and I am heartbroken to have to say Goodbye...��
RIP to the most masterful playwright, one of the greatest to ever capture South African struggles and experiences onstage! Your words will tread the boards forever good sir #AtholFugard �� pic.twitter.com/RyViig0ZhC
— Devaksha Moodley (@DivaMoodley) March 9, 2025