South Africa’s most loved Poet and author, Don Mattera, died at 87 in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa, on the 18th of July 2022.
He was a social activist who often raised voices against the social issues that still prevail in our society until now. The Poet was recently recognized for his dedication to community improvement and human rights with the 2022 Artfluence Human Rights Award.
Poet: Don Mattera Death Cause And Obituary
He was always counted as one of the influential and humble people of South Africa. He was not in his finest health condition in the past couple of years, which might be the reason for his death. The news was shared by his family, who has stated that they will be releasing an official statement regarding Don Mattera’s death in the future.
The Don Mattera Legacy Foundation was established in Eldorado Park in January 2020 to preserve Mattera’s legacy so that present and future generations will be able to recognize and appreciate the enormous sacrifice he made on behalf of the classified coloreds in the fields of literature, the arts, journalism, and South African liberation.
Don Mattera’s Wife And Family
Maria Mattera was the wife of a late South African poet who always supported her husband and stood alongside her in every difficult and joyful moment of his life like a true life partner. They are reported to have multiple children, but their son Dr. Teddy Mattera is famous among people and the media.
He is the chairperson of The Don Mattera Legacy Foundation, which is focused on preserving the legacy of Don Mattera and is aware of the upcoming generation of the arts and creations of Don Mattera.
Did Don Mattera Follow Muslim Religion?
As per reports, he was a Christian by birth, but in 1970 he converted to Islam as he was fond of Islamic beliefs and culture. Mattera attended a Catholic boarding school in Durban after being adopted by his grandparents.
When he was 14 years old, he returned to Johannesburg and resumed his studies in Pageview, another apartheid-era neighborhood where people were once more forcibly relocated in the 1960s.
His health conditions were not improving after being admitted to the hospital for some time in December 2021. his family reported that he had suffered from a mild stroke and was back to his normal health after he received medical treatment at the hospital in Johannesburg.
Don Mattera’s Biography
Don Mattera was raised in Sophiatown, which at the time was a thriving center of South African culture. The Poet was born in 1935 in Western Native Township, known as Westbury in present times.
Paolo Mattera, Don Mattera’s great-grandfather, was an Italian immigrant who wed an eastern Cape Xhosa woman. To be closer to Mattera’s father, they relocated to Johannesburg. He was regarded as an Italian at the time. Don was labeled as colored under the apartheid era.
Colored people were deprived of their fundamental rights in South Africa, like the right to vote, which was officially abolished in 1990 after a great revolution. They were transported to the surrounding suburbs of Westbury, Newclare, and Bosmont. This group was among the last to be forcibly removed from Sophiatown. Don feels himself to be Italian and is proud of his background.