‘Uncompromising’ poet and activist James Matthews lived life on his own terms

In 2004, Matthews was awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga for his achievements in literature and contributions to journalism and the struggle for a non-racial South Africa. (Photo: Gallo Images / Daily Maverick / Leila Dougan)

By Suné Payne

8 Sep 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Western Cape Premier Alan Winde were among those who paid tribute to poet and activist James Matthews, who died on Saturday.

Respected anti-apartheid activist, poet and journalist James Matthews has died aged 95.

james matthews poet activist South African dissident poet, writer and publisher James Matthews at his home in Silvertown in Cape Town on 5 August 2022. Matthews was born in District Six on 29 May 1929. His poetry was his commitment to the struggle against apartheid, drawing on Black Consciousness philosophy. His work was banned by the apartheid regime and he was detained by the government in 1976. (Photo: Gallo Images / Daily Maverick / Leila Dougan)

His son Jimi Matthews said his father — whose poetry was banned by the apartheid regime in the 1970s — taught him and his three siblings that “there was a big world beyond apartheid and the fallacies of white supremacy”.

Matthews said his father died peacefully in his sleep, for which the family was grateful. Two weeks before his death on Saturday, he suffered a mild stroke.

James Matthews was born on 25 May 1929 in District Six, Cape Town. After he left school in Standard 8 (the equivalent of Grade 10) at the age of 14 he began working. One of his first jobs was delivering newspapers.

In 1946, aged 17, his first story was published in a Cape Town newspaper, The Sun. After that, he worked as a journalist for publications including the Cape Times and Drum magazine.

Matthews’ first collection of poetry, Cry Rage, co-authored with Gladys Thomas and published in 1972, was banned by the apartheid regime — the first time it had banned a work of poetry. He was detained in 1976 and was denied a passport several times. (Photo: Gallo Images / Daily Maverick / Leila Dougan)

According to SA History Online, Matthews wrote short stories which explored issues, dilemmas and the world of the working class in Cape Town and its townships. Through his poetry, he was an articulator of the black consciousness philosophy.

Matthews’ works were banned by the apartheid regime, with his first collection of poetry, Cry Rage, co-authored with Gladys Thomas and published in 1972, banned by the regime — the first time it banned a work of poetry. He was detained in 1976 and on several occasions was denied a passport.

In remembering his father, Jimi Matthews — a former head of news at SABC, who earlier worked as a cameraperson for international organisations including Visnews and the BBC — said his father “lived his life on his own terms. He was uncompromising. He remained true to himself.”

Jimi Matthews said his father was a single parent who raised four children and was generous in a way that “gave us a lot of freedom”. He always taught his children to dream big. When Jimi Matthews told his father he wanted to become a filmmaker, “my father got books on filmmaking and film”.

Their home in Silvertown, Athlone was an open house where guests could always find a place to sleep and food to eat.

Matthews said his father’s mantra to his children was: “Just don’t be a nuisance.”

james matthews poet activist James Matthews at the launch of the Living Legends Legacy Project on 25 August 2015 at Cedar Woods Hotel in Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images / City Press / Denzil Maregele)

He was extremely proud of his 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He enjoyed their visits and quickly became their favourite person.

He had another mantra for his grandchildren: “You can choose to be cool or you can choose to be kak.”

‘Proud to support Cosas’

James Matthews was often surrounded by young people, including at the student protests in the 1970s and the #FeesMustFall protests that began in 2015. “He was always in touch and supporting,” said his son. “He was very proud to support Cosas. And it was the only T-shirt he wore”.

(The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) was a militant national student organisation which represented the interests of black school pupils from 1979 until liberation.)

james matthews poet activist In 2004, Matthews was awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga for his achievements in literature and contributions to journalism and the struggle for a non-racial South Africa. (Photo: Gallo Images / Daily Maverick / Leila Dougan)

On Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “James Matthews’ voice will ring in our consciousness following his departure and 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 frontlines 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.”

In 2004, Matthews was awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga for his achievements in literature and contributions to journalism and the Struggle for a non-racial South Africa.

The Western Cape MEC for cultural affairs and sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, said: “It is always sad when we lose someone who had such a profound impact on the arts in our country. James Matthews was someone who fought for freedom of expression for writers and other artists. He was dedicated to his community and did reading groups at local schools for many years.”

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said: “As prolific and talented as James Matthews was, he was so 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.” DM

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‘Proud to support Cosas’