Don matera biography pdf

Don Mattera South African journalist, poet and author.

Don matera biography pdf: Mattera was born in Western Native

He is better known as Don Mattera. As a youth he joined and became the leader of the gang called The Vultures and at the age of 20, he was charged with the murder of a rival gang member and spent time in jail as an awaiting trialist before his acquittal. As a political activist he joined the African National Congress Youth League, and in the early s became involved in the politics of the Black Consciousness Movement.

As a result of his political activities, the South African government from to banned him. Three of these years were spent under house arrest. Following this period, he resumed his active life. Mattera has written poetry, plays, children stories and an autobiography, called Memory is the Weapon for which he was awarded the Steve Biko Prize.

He wrote a number of plays, including Streetkids , Apartheid in the Court of History , and One Time Brother , which was banned in He is credited in the programme of African Footprint for the use of his poetry.