Many mourn Matshikiza

2008-09-16 16:35

Johannesburg - Writer, playwright and actor John Matshikiza's "biting wit and eloquence" will be missed in the South African art fraternity, Democratic Alliance (DA) arts spokesperson Desiree van der Walt said on Tuesday.

Matshikiza collapsed and died of a heart attack in a restaurant in Melville, Johannesburg, on Monday. He was 54.

The DA expressed condolences to the Matshikiza family, as did Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan and the Young Communist League (YCL).

"John's tragic demise represents an extremely heartrending loss for South Africa's arts, especially theatre," said Jordan.

Johnny, as his friends called Matshikiza, would be sorely missed for his "wit, his sense of humour and his gifts as an actor and a writer".

YCL spokesperson Castro Ngobese said Matshikiza's work related to the daily bread and butter struggles faced by the majority of the country's people, especially the working class and the poor.

Independent voice

Matshikiza was born in Johannesburg in 1954 and grew up in Lusaka and London. He also lived in the United States, Amsterdam and various African countries including Senegal.

He trained in drama and worked in theatre, television and film as an actor, director and writer.

He was also a columnist and feature writer for newspapers including the Mail & Guardian.

In 2002, he won the regional and national Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award in the specialist category for his column, With the Lid Off.

His published works include South Where Her Feet Cool on Ice and Prophets in the Black Sky.

Nelson Mandela Foundation memory programme manager Verne Harris said Matshikiza had given much back to South Africa through his talents.

"[He] will probably best be remembered for this independent voice that could be heard in newspaper columns, at theatres, in coffee bars and restaurants."

"John's words will live on in his written and dramatic work and his critical voice will serve as a reminder to all of us of the freedom of expression this country struggled so hard to achieve."

- SAPA