South African struggle poet and author Don Mattera, 86, has passed away. His The family confirmed his passing and said they would issue a full statement in due course.
The author of Azanian Love Song was recently honoured with the 2022 Artfluence Human Rights Award for his commitment to human rights and community development as part of the 60th year anniversary celebrations.
The prolific writer was described Mattera as a voice of compassion and an activist. He has worked as a journalist on The Sunday Times, The Sowetan, and the Weekly Mail (now known as the Mail and Guardian). He was also a director of the black consciousness publishing imprint Skotaville.
In his autobiography Memory Is the Weapon he writes: “Sophiatown also had its beauty; picturesque and intimate like most ghettoes…. Mansions and quaint cottages … stood side by side with rusty wood-and-iron shacks, locked in a fraternal embrace of filth and felony…. The rich and the poor, the exploiters and the exploited, all knitted together in a colourful fabric that ignored race or class structures.” This “multiracial fabric” did not conform to the separatist policies of apartheid and so the suburb was destroyed and the people forcibly removed.”
His funeral will leave from 8 Ramaite Street, Protea North at 7.30 pm proceeding to Avalon Cemetery for Janaz.
Tributes pour in for the iconic poet:
We are saddened by the loss of Don Mattera’s eloquent, rousing & revolutionary voice for justice. As we observe International Nelson #MandelaDay, we remember Bra Don as a patriot, who in the spirit of this commemorative day, did what he could, with what he had, where he was. pic.twitter.com/UgrHP6PPLb
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 18, 2022
Dr. Donato Monnapula Mattera, aka Bra Don, aka Bra Zinga, poet, gangster, activist, Muslim, Pan-African, orator, journalist, playwright, & human encyclopedia. My life would be impossible without yours. Sending love to your family that shared you so generously with the world. RIP. pic.twitter.com/eovI8Lgp63
— Lebogang Mashile (@lebomashile) July 18, 2022
The Tambo Foundation is devastated to learn of the passing of veteran poet & activist, Don Mattera. Mattera leaves behind an incredible body of work spanning decades.
— Tambo Foundation (@TamboFoundation) July 18, 2022
"I would like to be remembered as a man who loved his country & his people."
May the soul of this giant RIP. pic.twitter.com/MqsMIqGrts
Memory is a weapon.
— Andre Vlok (@vlok_andre) July 18, 2022
I knew deep down inside of me, in that place where laws and guns cannot reach nor jackboots trample, that there had been no defeat.
Don Mattera
RIP Don Mattera, thank you for the memories pic.twitter.com/UOFHUZliSS
Go well Kokwana! MHSRIP and Rise in Glory. Don Mattera, poet, activist, humanitarian, community person, non-racist and actually a real human being. Kokwana! pic.twitter.com/r2hxikp5py
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) July 18, 2022
Cece Smith 
Bongi Sikelo 