President Ramaphosa mourns passing of Hugh Lewin

President Cyril Ramaphosa sends heartfelt condolences on the passing of acclaimed author, journalist and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Lewin who passed away at his home at the age of 79 on Wednesday 16 January 2019.

Mr Lewin worked as a journalist at the Natal Witness, Drum Magazine and the Golden City Post.

He later became Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism in Johannesburg and served as a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission committee on human rights violations in Gauteng.

As an author, he won the 2003, Olive Schreiner Prize for his prison memoir, “Bandiet Out of Jail” and in 2012 won the Alan Paton Award for another personal memoir, “Stones Against the Mirror”.

Under apartheid, Mr Lewin served a full prison sentence for sabotage and left South Africa on a “permanent exit permit” in 1971 to live in exile in the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.

President Ramaphosa has noted: “We have lost an incredible writer and a valiant soldier who fought fearlessly for human rights and the justice and freedom that are the hallmarks of our democracy.

“His fighting spirit and humanity will forever be remembered by those he touched through his life, actions and also his written words. We send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and relatives.  May his soul rest in peace.”

Biography

Hugh Lewin, a journalist and acclaimed author who was jailed under apartheid in the 1960s, has died at the age of 79 at his Johannesburg home.

Lewin’s career spanned employment as a journalist for the Natal Witness, Drum and Golden City Post. After serving the full term of his sentence for sabotage activities against the apartheid state, he left SA on a “permanent departure permit” in December 1971.

Ten years in exile in London were followed by 10 years in Zimbabwe. He returned to SA in 1992 and became director of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism. Later, he worked as a freelance media trainer.

Lewin won the 2012 Sunday Times Literary Awards’ 24th Alan Paton Award for non-fiction for his memoir, Stones Against the Mirror.

The book, a story of friendship and betrayal in the struggle against apartheid was also awarded a special prize for its importance in increasing awareness of human rights by the International Human Rights Book Award jury two years later.

He also received the Olive Schreiner prize for Bandiet out of Jail, his account of his time in Pretoria prison.

On 14 February 2018, St John’s College held a special unveiling as the school history block was named after former political prisoner and learner Lewin. Hugh attended St John’s College from 1948 until 1957.The school’s history block (originally built in 1938 and extended in 1961) was named after Lewin in recognition of the brave moral stand he took against apartheid, and also in recognition of his work as a journalist and writer.”

The naming ceremony was led by headmaster Paul Edey and by the head prefect, Raymond Barrow. Sithenkosi Mbuli and Liam Woodward, read poems and essays written by Lewin.

Lewin was also secretary of the St John’s African Education Fund, which was set up to provide financial aid to African students wishing to undertake higher education.

While he was at St John’s, Lewin developed an awareness of the wrongs of apartheid. This awareness was partly attributable to an innate sense of justice and morality acquired at home, and partly to the fact that he often accompanied St John’s College teachers to Sophiatown, the multiracial residential area that stood as a symbol of defiance to apartheid.

These visits to Sophiatown, and the sermons of priests such as Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, opened Lewin’s eyes to the realities of apartheid society. Written works produced by him in the mid-1950s, and published in the school magazine, reflected an acute awareness and abhorrence of the iniquities wrought by apartheid.

In 2013, Lewin was the recipient of a Golden Eagle Award, which is given to Old Johannians who have made truly significant contributions to society.