SA poet Sydney Vernon Peterson dies

Sydney Vernon Petersen, one of the prominent South African poets and educationist of the 1940s, died in Germiston. His poetry was translated into English, Italian, Russian and German. In 1946 Petersen published a highly acclaimed novel, As die son ondergaan (When the sun sets). Although his profession was teaching, it was as a poet that Petersen became famous. He traveled extensively internationally as a guest speaker. Various honours were bestowed on him during his lifetime and posthumously.