Poet, author and cultural icon Dr Diana Ferrus has died at the age of 72 and will be laid to rest next Saturday, February 14.

Her family confirmed her passing with profound sadness, describing her as a beloved mentor, guiding light and a tireless advocate for justice, dignity and humanity.

Dr. Ferrus, known as the “people’s poet”, was internationally acclaimed for her poem I’ve Come to Take You Home, which played a pivotal role in the repatriation of Sarah Baartman’s remains from France in 2002.

Her work focused on memory, womanhood, dispossession and healing, earning her an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University in 2022.

The family has conveyed appreciation to the public for their support and has asked for privacy while memorial details will be shared in due course.