Athol Fugard passed away on Saturday, 8 March at the age of 92.
WORLD-RENOWNED playwright Athol Fugard has been celebrated as a legend globally.
Tributes have been pouring in for Fugard, who passed away on Saturday, 8 March, in Cape Town, at the age of 92.
Actor and director John Kani, who collaborated with him and the late Winston Ntshona, said he was heartbroken.
The last time I visited Athol Fugard in Stellenbosch (seen here with his wife Dr Paula Fourie) we joked about death and laughed at it. Yesterday it took him. He will be missed, but he lives forever in his works. pic.twitter.com/zOT3slrDlo
— Zakes Mda (@ZakesMda) March 10, 2025“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend Athol Fugard. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he wrote on X.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said Mzansi has lost a great man.
“South Africa has lost one of its greatest literary and theatrical icons, whose work shaped the cultural and social landscape of our nation. In a world divided by race, Fugard nurtured the careers of acting legends like Dr John Kani and Winston Ntshona and was one of the founding fathers of the Market Theatre, which is today owned by the government through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
“He sacrificed many of his privileges to tell the story of South African pain under apartheid with honesty and bravery,” the minister said.
The Market Theatre also commended the playwright.
“The Market Theatre joins the world in mourning the passing of Athol Fugard, a titan of South African and world theatre whose voice and vision shaped the landscape of storytelling, both at home and abroad.
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“Fugard’s unflinching commitment to truth, justice, and the act of witnessing through theatre resonated deeply within the Market Theatre’s walls, where his plays found a natural home and a passionate audience. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who loved and admired him. RIP, Athol Fugard. Your words live on,” the statement read.
Political party RISE Mzansi called him brave.
“RISE Mzansi mourns the passing of legendary South African playwright Athol Fugard at age 92. Renowned for his fearless storytelling, Fugard used theatre to challenge apartheid and expose injustice,” the statement read.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) acknowledged his contributions to the black community in Mzansi.
PanSALB mourns the passing of literary icon Athol Fugard. The literary community has suffered a great loss by his passing.
May his soul find eternal rest and may his loved ones draw strength from his legacy. ????? pic.twitter.com/mDFdDs5uGY
— Pan South African Language Board (@PanSALB) March 10, 2025“As the EFF reflects on Fugard’s passing, we acknowledge that the injustices he exposed continue to manifest in the economic exclusion, poverty, and racial inequality that still plague South Africa today. The struggle against oppression remains unfinished, and we must continue the fight with the same courage and conviction that defined Fugard’s work,” the party said.
The EFF also urged the reopening of The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town.
Athol Fugard’s plays gave voice to the struggle, shaping consciousness & preserving our history. As a born-free, I was privileged to learn from his work. As this literary giant rests, may his words continue to awaken & heal our society. Thank you good sir.
— lavish (@luvuvu) March 9, 2025“The EFF calls on the government to bestow dignity on Fugard’s name and his legacy by ensuring that The Fugard Theatre is reopened following its shameful closure in March 2021. Theatre continues to hold an important role in developing communities and mainstreaming the concepts of justice.
“The government’s failure to support the theatre industry marks a failure to preserve the heritage of the South African anti-apartheid movement in the art industry. As such, the EFF calls on the relevant stakeholders to invest in local theatre-making organisations,” they said.
Funeral arrangements haven’t been announced yet.
However, Joburg Theatre’s artistic director, James Ngcobo, told Daily Sun that they would plan a memorial service for him.
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