Anant Singh remembers Athol Fugard, the playwright who turned the stage into a battlefield against apartheid

South African legendary theatre playwright Athol Fugard has passed away after a long illness.

Fugard, 92, has left an indelible mark on the South African theatre scene and played a crucial role in shedding light on the injustices of apartheid through his powerful storytelling.

With a portfolio surpassing thirty plays, Fugard's works included "The Blood Knot", "Master Harold ... and the Boys", "The Road to Mecca", "Boesman and Lena", and "Tsotsi", which was later adapted into an Oscar-winning film.

Fugard also gave an incredible performance in the role of General Jan Smuts in Richard Attenborough’s film, "Gandhi". 

His dedication to confronting social injustices earned him numerous accolades, including the Civic Honours from the City of Cape Town in 2023 and the prestigious Order of Ikhamanga in Silver from the South African government in 2005.

Filmmaker Anant Singh, who had the privilege of collaborating with Fugard, expressed sadness at his passing.

"I am profoundly saddened by the passing of Athol Fugard. He was an icon of the South African theatre fraternity, a gifted playwright, actor and director. As a committed anti-apartheid activist, he used the platform of the theatre to bring attention to the atrocities of apartheid," Singh remarked.

Singh added that he was inspired by Fugard when he started in the film industry in the 80s.

"He was a role model through his work in protest theatre. As a long-time admirer of his, I was thrilled to collaborate with him on the film adaptation of ‘The Road to Mecca’, in which he also starred alongside Yvonne Bryceland and Academy Award winner, Kathy Bates."

He continued: "Athol’s passing leaves a huge void in the South African theatre landscape, but he leaves a rich legacy of thought-provoking works for generations to come.

"South Africa has truly lost a national treasure. My sincere condolences go to the Fugard family and Athol’s many friends, and I send them strength during these difficult days. May his soul rest in peace." 

In 1989, Fugard was lauded as the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world by "Time" magazine, highlighting the universal relevance of his themes, which boldly challenged societal norms and the status quo.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) issued a heartfelt statement honouring Fugard's contributions to the struggle for freedom and expressing condolences to his family and friends.

The statement shared that Fugard's early breakthrough came with his play "Blood Knot" in 1961, which sharply criticised apartheid's systematic oppression. He continued with "Master Harold and the Boys", which remains a poignant discourse on race relations, making his work timeless and critically relevant.

"Fugard’s profound contributions to South African theatre and the struggle for freedom will reverberate through generations. 

"The DA extends its most heartfelt condolences to Fugard’s family and those closest to him, as South Africans mourn the passing of a literary giant," read the statement.