“Do anything, be anything – just do not be a nuisance”.
This is the mantra passed down to the children of acclaimed poet, writer and political and cultural activist James Matthews, who died peacefully in his sleep at his Silvertown home in Athlone at the weekend at the age of 95.
Matthews, having received a number of accolades during his career, was an esteemed member of the National Order of Ikhamanga. He received this honour in 2004 for his excellent achievements in literature, his contribution to journalism, and his inspirational commitment to the Struggle for a non-racial South Africa.
Jimi Matthews said his father’s legacy will be treasured for years to come, and they hold dear the values he instilled, being a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Jimi said his father enjoyed his latter years woven into the fabric of the Athlone community.
“Our family isn’t distraught by my dad’s passing. While it wasn’t unexpected, it did come as a surprise, especially since my son and I visited him the day before as we regularly visited over the past few weeks. He had become very frail due to old age recently and passed away peacefully. We are content that he lived a full, adventurous and uncompromised life despite living through the times that he did.
“He looked peaceful and it was easier to accept that he went peacefully,” said Jimi.
President Cyril Ramaphosa shared his condolences, saying the family’s loss was shared by communities across South Africa and associates globally of the poet, writer and patron of the Congress of South African Writers.
Matthews worked as a messenger and journalist at the “Cape Times” where, in his own words, his introduction to a library was “one of wonderment”.
He also wrote for the Golden City Post and Drum magazine and published his first poetry anthology in 1972, which was later banned under the regime of the time, before he was detained at Victor Verster prison in 1976.
Ramaphosa said: “Matthews’s 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 front lines 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,” said Ramaphosa.
Through his writing, Matthews protested against the apartheid regime and raised consciousness around oppression in South Africa.
He later owned an art gallery and founded a publishing company.
Former “Cape Times” editor Aneez Salie said he was “the luckiest journalist” as his formative years were spent under Matthews’s tutelage at Muslim News.
“I learnt an enormous amount from him about journalism and activism and Struggle and the fight for media freedom.
One of the most important lessons he taught me was to always extend the right of reply,” said Salie.
Premier Alan Winde said: “As prolific and talented as James Matthews was, he was 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 leaves two children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Cape Times
James leaves two children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.