JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African writer and poet Breyten Breytenbach, a staunch opponent of the former white-minority government’s apartheid policy of racial oppression, has died in Paris, his family announced on Sunday. He was 85.
Breytenbach was a celebrated wordsmith, a leading voice in literature in Afrikaans — an offshoot of Dutch that was developed by white settlers — and a fierce critic of apartheid that was imposed against the country's Black majority between 1948 and 1990.
He moved to Paris but on a clandestine trip to his home country in 1975 he was arrested on allegations that he assisted Nelson Mandela’s then-outlawed African National Congress group in its sabotage campaign against the white-minority government.
He was convicted of treason and served seven years in prison. Upon his release he based himself in Paris, where he continued his anti-apartheid activism.
Breytenbach is best known for “Confessions of an Albino Terrorist," his account of his imprisonment and the events leading to it.
His work addressed themes of exile, identity and justice, his family said in a statement on Sunday.
“Known for his masterful poetry collections in Afrikaans, as well as autobiographical works such as ‘The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist’ and ‘A Season in Paradise,' he fearlessly addressed themes of exile, identity and justice," his family said in a statement.
Breytenbach was a poet, novelist, painter and activist whose work touched on and influenced literature and the arts both domestically and abroad, his family added.
He was born in the Western Cape province in 1939, but spent much of his life abroad.
He joined Okhela, an ideological wing of South Africa’s African National Congress, in exile, but remained deeply connected to his South African roots.
He is survived by his wife, Yolande, daughter Daphnée and two grandsons.
FILE - South African writer Breyten Breytenbach, right, and American actor and singer Harry Belafonte shake hands during a press conference in Paris, on June 18, 1986. (AP Photo, File)
Down by two with two holes to play, Jeeno Thitikul knew exactly what was needed to capture the biggest prize in women's golf history.
And another eagle-birdie finish — for the second straight day — made it happen.
Thitikul won the record-setting $4 million first-place check by capturing the CME Group Tour Championship on Sunday. It's the biggest money prize in women’s golf history, bigger than even the winner’s shares in three of the four men’s major championships this year.
Thitikul shot a 7-under 65 on Sunday and finished the week at 22 under, one shot ahead of Angel Yin (66). Yin had a two-shot lead walking to the 17th tee, only to wind up settling for the $1 million runner-up check.
The win and the massive check came down to the 18th hole, Thitikul and Yin tied at 21 under after a back-and-forth day atop the leaderboard — both knowing a mistake would likely come with a $3 million cost.
Thitkul had a two-shot lead after three holes; Yin had a two-shot lead with two holes left. Neither was safe; Yin birdied and Thitikul bogeyed the par-4 fourth for a tie at 16 under, and Thitikul eagled the par-5 17th to pull into a tie with Yin at 21 under.
They both hit the fairway on 18. Thitikul's approach was nearly perfect, stopping about 5 feet from the cup. Yin's response stopped maybe 15 feet away, giving Thitkul the edge as they walked up the fairway.
Yin's birdie putt just missed. Thitikul's was dead center. And history was hers.
She already had clinched a $1 million bonus this week through the Aon Risk-Reward Challenge, a competition based on how players score on a designated hole each week. In the end, it wound up as a whopping $5 million week for the 21-year-old from Thailand — and going 8 under over the four days on the Nos. 17 and 18 at Tiburon Golf Club made it happen.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Ruoning Yin tees off on the eighth hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Nelly Korda tees of on the seventh hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Lexi Thompson, right, gives autographs after her final round of play during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Mao Saigo hits from the sand on the sixth hole during the first round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Jeeno Thitikul tees off on the eighth hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Angel Yin, right, looks down the fairway on the ninth hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Brooke Henderson tees of on the eighth hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Angel Yin tees off on the ninth hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Angel Yin hits from the sand on the sixth hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
Jeeno Thitikul tees off on the ninth hole during the final round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)
