The name of the South African newspaper editor Donald Woods, who died on August 19th aged 67, was linked inextricably with that of Steve Biko's, the South African black activist who died in police custody in September 1977, after six days in detention and 22 hours of interrogation - handcuffed, manacled and tortured.
Donald Woods wrote a book on Biko's life; Richard Attenborough made the film Cry Freedom! in 1987 (seen by 850 million people in 67 countries); Kevin Kline played Woods, and Denzel Washington was Biko. Donald Woods wrote other books: his autobiography, Asking for Trouble, Filming with Attenborough, Apartheid - a Graphic Guide, Black and White and South African Dispatches.
After his escape from South Africa, following a banning order, he gave 462 formal lectures at universities and colleges in American states alone, not counting other countries; he briefed 37 Western governments at the highest level on apartheid (relentlessly pressing for sanctions against the apartheid regime); and received numerous awards, citations, honorary citizenships, honorary degrees, a Nieman Fellowship, an invitation by the UN (the first to a private citizen) to address the Security Council, and last year a CBE.
Invited to the White House, he was asked by President Carter, "Mr Woods, what should we be doing about South Africa?" He replied: "Mr President, I would need three hours to detail the reply to that." Carter turned to Vice-President Mondale, and said: "Fritz, please call Cy Vance (Secretary of State) and see that Mr Woods gets to brief all State Department senior staff for three hours this afternoon on what we should be doing about South Africa."
Born at a trading station in the Eastern Cape province, a fifth-generation descendant of 1820 settlers from Britain and Ireland, Donald Woods was educated at Catholic schools, studied law for five years in Cape Town, and then joined the Daily Dispatch in East London as a cub reporter, later acquiring more experience in Britain and Canada, and before long becoming editor of the Daily Despatch, aged 31.
He syndicated a widely read column and corresponded regularly for the Observer and New Statesman in London.
Being an editor in South Africa under the apartheid regime, as one editor observed, was like walking blindfold through a minefield. During his 12 years as editor, Donald Woods was involved in 37 lawsuits against the apartheid government or its supporters. He initiated 16 of them - and won them all.
Sentenced in 1975 to six months' imprisonment for refusing to disclose a source to the police, he took the case to the Appellate Division, and won. He also successfully brought legal action against the transport minister Ben Schoeman for defamation and against the head of the notorious BOSS (Bureau for State Security), Gen Hendrik van den Bergh, for equating opposition to apartheid with treason.
His close friendship with Steve Biko unfolds in Attenborough's film. When Biko died, and Donald Woods began campaigning against the circumstances of his death, he was detained, and served with a banning order on October 19th, 1977, which prevented him from working as a journalist or attending any gatherings. A banning order was a kind of civil death, and he escaped from South Africa, disguised as a priest, to be joined by his wife Wendy and family.
Some militants in Biko's Black Consciousness Movement resented his claim on Biko's friendship.
At a conference of the BCM-orientated (black) Writers' Association of SA (Wasa), a resolution was passed accusing him of exploiting Biko's name and being an "unscrupulous opportunist".
On his arrival in London, he reported to the president-general of the African National Congress, Oliver Tambo (now deceased), who advised him against joining the ANC, saying he would be more valuable as an unaffiliated commentator.
This launched his long years of campaigning for anti-apartheid sanctions. With David Astor (former editor of the Observer), they founded the Lincoln Trust, a voluntary organisation committed to resisting Pretoria's propaganda wherever possible, while pushing for sanctions. The trust also helped a number of South African exiles obtain university education in Britain and the United States.
He returned to South Africa in 1990 after 13 years in exile, but continued to live in Britain. He later made several visits to his homeland - the last in May for the wedding of Biko's son, Nkosinathi.
Donald Woods is survived by his wife Wendy, two daughters and three sons.
Donald Woods: born 1933; died, August 2001