RIP Ronnie Govender: Renowned activist and playwright has died
Legendary South African author, activist and playwright Ronnie Govender passed away on Thursday at the age of 85.
FUNERAL TO BE HELD IN CAPE TOWN
The activist was known as a pioneer of Indian South African theatre in the country. He took his last breath at the age of 85 and his funeral will be held at his home in the city of Cape Town.
“We were dancing with him and having good conversations until very recently,” said Parusha Naidoo, granddaughter of Ronnie Govender according to IOL.
ABOUT THE LIFE OF RONNIE GOVENDER
Ronnie Govender was a writer and theatre-maker.
Through the arts, he stood firm against the apartheid regime.
For this, he has received various commendations, the Order of Ikhamanga and Commonwealth Writers’s Prize.
Writer and theatre activist Ronnie Govender died on Thursday 29 April 2021 aged 85.
While studying at the University of Cape Town, Govender paid his fees by working as a sportswriter for the New Age. In line with
New Age’s politics against apartheid, Govender used his writings to encourage the Indian community to boycott segregated sporting events. A year after Govender joined the newsroom, government authorities shut down the publication. Now without an income, he went back home where he studied teaching at Durbans’s Springfield Training College.
Legendary activist and playwright Ronnie Govender has died
The 85-year-old doyen of community theatre died on Thursday, April 29 from age related illnesses.
Parusha Naidoo, granddaughter of Govender said: We were dancing with him and having good conversations until very recently .
Govender’s funeral will be held at his home in Cape Town.
Govender, famously known for his colourful storytelling in both books and on theatre stages, captivated audiences around the world.
Some of his books included “Song of the Atman”; “Black Chin White Chin” and “At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories”, which was used as a school set-book.