Biography
Donald Woods was a South African journalist and writer. Born on 15 December 1933 in Hobeni, Eastern Cape, he studied law before entering journalism. He became editor of the Daily Dispatch in East London in 1965 and maintained an editorial stance critical of apartheid.
Woods befriended anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko and wrote books including Biko (1978) and his autobiography Asking for Trouble (1981). These formed the basis for the film Cry Freedom (1987), on which he also served as principal consultant. After being banned by the South African government, he escaped into exile in Britain in 1978, where he continued campaigning against apartheid and addressed the UN Security Council. He was awarded the CBE in 2000. Woods also contributed to the film Tongues Untied (1989). He died on 19 August 2001 in London.
