Hugh Lewin

Hugh Lewin (3 December 1939 – 16 January 2019)

He was educated at Rhodes University and then became a journalist at the Natal Witness in Pietermaritzburg, also writing for Drum magazine and Golden City Post in Johannesburg. Lewin was an anti-apartheid activist, and was imprisoned for seven years from July 1964 for his activities in support of the African Resistance Movement. In London, he was an information officer for the International Defence and Aid Fund, and also worked as journalist for The Observer and The Guardian. Moving to newly independent Zimbabwe in 1981, he was a founding member of the Dambudzo Marechera Trust. He became of director of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism. He co-founded Baobab Press with Irene Staunton. He worked for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a member of its Human Rights Violations Committee. He later married Pat Davidson, a solicitor. They had two daughters, Thandi and Tessa. They later divorced, and his partner for many years was Fiona Lloyd. He suffered with Lewy body dementia in his later years. He died in Killarney, Johannesburg.