South African anti-apartheid activist Meer dies at 81
South African anti-apartheid activist Fatima Meer, a close friend of former president Nelson Mandela and supporter of the late Steve Biko, died in hospital on Friday, a family friend said. She was 81.
"She was admitted into hospital 10 days ago ... She had a stroke and passed away this afternoon," Ashwin Desai, a family friend, told AFP.
An academic, author and publisher Meer organised night vigils in the 1960s, to protest against the mass detention of anti-apartheid activists without trial.
She was subject to a banning order several times in the 1970s and also detained without trial for trying to organise a political rally with Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko.
"She was one person post 1994 (when the first multi-racial elections were held) who did not seek the limelight and wanted to to remain a critical academic," said Desai.
Her books included the "Trial of Andrew Zondo", the story of an executed African National Congress guerrilla and "Higher Than Hope", a biography of Mandela.
Meer was also close friend of Mandela ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the pair were detained together in 1976. Her funeral will held on Saturday in Durban. www.starafrica.com/
