-
Renowned SA poet, writer, and activist Diana Ferrus.
Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says the work of the late poet and author, Dr Diana Ferrus, has moved people across languages and generations. Ferrus died in Cape Town at the age of 72 on Friday after suffering a stroke a few weeks ago.
She is known for the poem “I’ve Come to Take You Home” which was a tribute to Sarah Baartman. McKenzie says the writing helped focus international attention on the injustice of Baartman’s treatment and is credited as a contribution to the repatriation of her remains in 2002. He says Ferrus poetry helped restore dignity to untold stories.
Media Statement
Saturday, 31 January 2026Statement by the Minister on the passing of poet and cultural activist Dr Diana Ferrus pic.twitter.com/gIovzTZ22x
— Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (@SportArtsCultur) January 31, 2026
Official funeral
Meanwhile, Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs Ricardo Mckenzie says the late poet Dr. Ferrus deserves to be hounoured with an official funeral.
Mckenzie was speaking at the Cape Flats Book Festival in Mitchell’s Plain, where Ferrus was set to make an appearance.
“The family will meet tomorrow. They will make a decision if they want an official funeral. And once they’ve done that they will write to us and obviously we write to the president and do the formalities because someone like her deserves it. We have given humanity so much. We’ve given the ability to think cognitive thinking with a new world heritage site and we’ve given good leaders in poetry writing. She’s certainly one of the top tier ones. We need to honour her and we need to do something special for her.”
Trailblazer in literature and culture
The Artscape Theatre in Cape Town has described Dr Diana Ferrus as a trailblazer in literature and culture. Artscape CEO, Marlene le Roux, says Ferrus was a courageous storyteller who advocated for the repatriation of the remains of Sarah Baartman from Europe.
“And to think that this poem became a catalyst for the return of Sarah Bartman’s remains to South Africa. This is, was and will be always our beloved Dr. Diana Ferris, was a community person that always served the communities, that always, through her work, highlighted the plight of the people on the ground.”
