A South African literary icon, who put Cape Town on the world map through her stories alone, is no more.
Acclaimed novelist and short-story writer Zoë Wicomb, who died on Tuesday (14 October) in the United Kingdom, leaves a remarkable legacy.
It also includes a distinguished academic career, as professor of literature at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) during the post-apartheid era before moving to Scotland, where she taught at the University of Strathclyde until her retirement.
The UWC community was mourning the loss of one of its most distinguished alumni; born in Namaqualand in 1948, she was part of the very first generation of UWC students in the late 1960s and early ’70s, who also included late Rector Prof Brian O’Connell.
“Her work has put our communities and experiences on the literary map globally,” said Prof Fiona Moolla, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at UWC, who announced Wicomb’s death.
From Namaqualand to international renown
Prof Zoë Charlotte Wicomb’s journey from the Northern Cape to becoming one of South Africa’s most celebrated authors is an inspiring one. Her breakthrough work, You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town (1987), a collection of short stories, resonated with readers worldwide and established her as a powerful voice in anti-apartheid resistance literature.
The book, which draws on her own experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa, became essential reading and is still studied by students at UWC today.
She went on to write several acclaimed novels, including David’s Story (2000), Playing in the Light (2006), October (2014) and, most recently, Still Life (2023).
Wicomb was a teacher who never forgot her roots. After completing her PhD she returned to UWC’s English Department in the post-apartheid era before relocating to Glasgow, Scotland.
Despite living abroad she maintained strong ties with South Africa and UWC. In 2022 the university bestowed an honorary doctorate on her in recognition of her outstanding contribution to literature.
UWC Vice-Chancellor Prof Robert Balfour, who knew Wicomb personally, shared warm memories of her. “I had the opportunity to meet Zoë, who visited the Time of the Writer Festival in the early 2000s, and I visited her and her partner in Glasgow afterwards. Her lively interest in South Africa and her deep concern with equality, inclusion and diversity, featured with such nuance, skill and wit in her writing and conversation, remain powerful in memory.”
Recognition and awards
Wicomb’s talent was recognised internationally, receiving as she did the prestigious Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prize in 2013, which cemented her reputation as one of the finest contemporary authors.
Her work fearlessly examined the complexities of apartheid, colonialism and post-apartheid South Africa, giving voice to experiences that had long been silenced.
“Professor Wicomb’s creative and critical works continue to influence and inspire our students,” Moolla pointed out. “Her connection to UWC brings immense pride to our institution, and her legacy will continue to impact students, scholars and readers worldwide.”
For readers wanting to discover her work You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town remains an excellent starting point and is available at most local bookstores and libraries.
