Diana Ferrus (Image: UWC)
It is with profound sadness that we honour the passing of Dr Diana Ferrus, a cultural icon, a literary giant, and a cherished member of the University of the Western Cape community.
Diana was more than a poet. She was a moral compass, a voice for the silenced, and a healer who transformed pain into purpose through language. Her work carried the power to restore dignity, to confront injustice, and to inspire healing across generations.
Her poem I've come to take you home, written for Sarah Baartman, stands as a historic testament to the transformative force of art. Through her words, Diana helped shift global consciousness and played a meaningful role in the return of Baartman’s remains to South Africa. She showed the world that poetry is not only expression, but action – a catalyst for justice, memory, and reconciliation.
As an alumna and staff member of the University of the Western Cape, Diana nurtured students, mentored emerging writers, and championed voices from marginalised communities. Writing in both English and Afrikaans, she bridged cultures and affirmed the depth and beauty of our multilingual heritage. Her commitment to grassroots writers, women poets, and community storytelling reflected her lifelong belief in the power of narrative to heal and empower.
We acknowledge the heartfelt reflections of her family, who remind us that Diana was not only a celebrated public figure but a deeply loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her warmth, humour, generosity, and compassion touched countless lives beyond the literary world.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and all who were shaped by her voice. We honour her legacy and recommit ourselves to the values she embodied – justice, empathy, creativity, courage, and hope.
May her soul rest in peace, and may her words continue to light our path. In her poetic style, we say: “Rest in peace, Diana. Your words still walk among us. Your voice still guides us. Your spirit still sings.”
Professor Robert John Balfour
Rector and Vice-Chancellor
University of the Western Cape