Jan Breytenbach

Military career Breytenbach attended the Army Gymnasium in 1950, and was awarded the Sword of Peace in 1953 and joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm after serving in the Armoured Corps and saw service in the Suez Crisis in 1956. He rejoined the South African Defence Force in 1961 and was promoted to colonel. In 1978, he led the SADF air assault on Cassinga, and would later continue for long contest opposing versions of the event in the press.

He became senior staff officer for operations at Northern Transvaal Command and commanded 44 Parachute Brigade from 24 September 1980 to 31 December 1982. He founded the SADF guerrilla school, which he commanded until his retirement.

Personal life and death He is the brother of South African poet and writer Breyten Breytenbach and of war correspondent/photographer Cloete Breytenbach. Cloete, who took an iconic photograph of Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu on Robben Island in July 1964 after being given permission to do so by then-South African Prime Minister John Vorster, died in 2019. Breyten and Jan Breytenbach held strongly opposing political viewpoints, as his brother opted for a left-wing approach.

Breytenbach was married to his wife Rosalind, and they had two children together.

Breytenbach died in the George Mediclinic in George, South Africa on 16 June 2024.

Books by Jan Breytenbach