Ben Dekker

Ben Dekker is a South African forester, surveyor, botanical expert, environmentalist, actor, politician, explorer, human rights activist, painter, sculptor, writer, poet and maverick.

Biography Benito Adolfo Dekker born 21 October 1940 in Centane, South Africa from newly arrived Dutch immigrants and grew up in Vincent, East London. He has two older brothers and two younger sisters. After matriculation from Selborne College at age 17 he was contracted for five years by the Department of Forestry. After completing two years of study at Saasveld Forestry College he was posted to Lottering Forest Station, Tsitsikamma. While stationed there, he studied for and qualified in surveying and drift sand reclamation, leading to him travelling widely throughout South African, more than he would have done as a forester.

In 1962 as soon as his contract with the department of forestry was completed he commenced a B.A. degree in philosophy and fine arts at Rhodes University, Grahamstown. To pay his way through university he worked as a lifeguard. For his master's degree in 1969 he wrote a thesis Bantu Philosophy. His thesis was turned down and then blacklisted by every South African university.

In 1970 he stood against Sir De Villiers Graaff, the United Party leader, in the general election in the Rondebosch East constituency. With the slogan, "Stem lekker, Stem Dekker" (Vote Well, Vote Dekker). Also calling for universal suffrage which at the height of apartheid was outside of political discourse. He challenged Graaff to a swimming race to Robben Island. Instead of offices he obtained a fruit vendor's cart as a platform to speak from or just to recline in various parts of Rondebosch. He attracted enough supporters to at least retain his deposit.

Considered politically dangerous his passport was suspended however he still managed to tour the whole of Africa, either on an Amnesty International passport or none at all, hitching rides, sometimes getting flights by helping pilots load cargo. He was a master of living off the land, often spending the night with the locals in the bushveldt.

In 2018 he returned to Cape Town, and lived in a caravan in Woodstock.

Ben Dekker subsequently returned to Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape. He currently (May 2025) resides in a home shared with a local family at Second Beach, where he continues his work as an environmental conservationist.

Productions taken part in Theatre 1966, Die Loodswaaiers by Uys Krige, CAPAB, set design, music, acting Jul. 1968, Cape Charade or Kaatje Kekkelbek by Guy Butler, Hofmeyr Theatre, CAPAB 1970, Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare, Hofmeyr Theatre, CAPAB Apr. 1972, Gilgamesh by Tessa Marwick, The Space Jun. 1972, Othello Slegs Blankes by Donald Howarth, The Space Aug. 1979, Egoli: City of Gold by Matsemela Manaka, The Space, design

Film 1973, Die Wildtemmer as Kobus le Grange 1973, Seun van die Wildtemmer as Kobus le Grange 1974, House of the Living Dead as Jan 1987, Survivor guest starring as Prophet

Television 1980, Sam et Sally (French TV series) as Sauerlein, in season 2, episode 4, La Peau du lion 1982, Die Vlakte Duskant Hebron (South African TV series) as Ghaitshi Ghubi - one of his best known roles. 1983, The Outcast (TV movie) as Adam

Publications Poetry Aas vir Aspoestertjie, 1986 Baai besoekers, 1993 Dylan Thomas - 20 Gedigte, translated and illustrated, Bitkop Publikasies, 2000,

Anthologies Am I still alive? by Ben Dekker, self published, 22 pages. Mostly contains just under thirty short anecdotes about the idiocy of apartheid.

Novels Mostly written under pseudonyms and printed in Nigeria.