Anti-Apartheid poet and writer James Matthews has died.

He passed away at the age of 95 in Cape Town this weekend. Matthews was known for authoring a variety of publications and stood as a fearless writer during the apartheid-era.

Former Dean of St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, Reverend Michael Weeder hailed Matthews for “lifting the torch of freedom in the darkest of times”.

Matthews who was born in District Six, began working as a journalist and wrote for various publications, including the Golden City Post, the Cape Times and the Drum magazine. He also served as the de facto news editors of the Muslim News newspaper.

In 1972, Mathews published his first poetry anthology which was later banned by the apartheid regime.