Award-winning author Elsa Joubert succumbed to Covid-19 at Mediclinic Cape Town on Sunday June 14.
Ms Joubert’s book Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena (The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena) was released in 1979 and has since been translated into 13 languages while it is also considered as one of the best African novels of all time by universities all over the world.
In January this year a movie based on the novel, Poppie Nongena, was released in cinemas all over the country and it has received critical reviews including a record 12 awards at the 2018 Silwerskerm Film Festival.
Ms Joubert, 97, was also the mother of Professor Nico Steytler, a law professor at the University of the Western Cape, who confirmed his mother’s death.
UWC’s rector and vice-chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius said that Ms Joubert had enjoyed a close relationship with the university and that one of his treasured possessions was a signed copy of her novel.
Professor Pretorius said: “Apart from her son Nico working at UWC, she held the university very close to her heart and was on occasion even a guest lecturer here. She was very supportive of UWC and had a personal relationship with our former rector and vice-chancellor, Professor Jakes Gerwel, as both of them were renowned literary figures,” Ms Joubert was born on 19 October 1922 in Paarl, where she grew up, and studied at the universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town.
Ms Joubert had also been a high school teacher in Cradock, Eastern Cape and was editor of Die Huisgenoot from 1946 till 1948.
Since 1957, Ms Joubert wrote a total of 21 novels, short stories, travelogues and plays.
She had three children – son Nico and daughters Elsabe and Henriette.
UWC acting rector and vice-chancellor Professor Vivienne Lawack said: “We will remember Ms Joubert fondly as having been a valued member of the UWC family and we wish Professor Steytler and the rest of his family well over this difficult time.”