Bartho Smit

Bartho Smit was a South African writer, poet, dramatist, and director, noted for his significant contributions to Afrikaans literature. Born in Klerkskraal, near Ventersdorp, he matriculated in Standerton before earning a bachelor’s degree in 1949 and a Master of Arts in 1951 from the University of Pretoria. In 1949, he married actress Kita Redelinghuys, and together they toured Europe from 1952 to 1957, immersing themselves in drama and philosophy. Smit was a member of the Sestigers, a group of influential Afrikaans writers in the 1960s. His acclaimed works include Moeder Hanna (1959), a drama about the Second Boer War, and Putsonderwater (1962), a play censored in South Africa due to its political content. His contributions earned him several accolades, including the Hertzog Prize for Drama in 1978.