Career
Born in Pearston, Eastern Cape, South Africa, he was an openly gay academic famous for his poems on sport. He matriculated at Grey High School, Portuguese Elizabeth. He held the degrees of Master of Arts (University of Stellenbosch), Doctor of Literature et Philosophy.(Ghent), Honorary.D.Litt.
(Rhodes University), Honorary Doctor of Literature
(University of the Witwatersrand). He was an Emeritus Professor of Afrikaans and Nederlands at Wits.
He also lectured at the University of Stellenbosch from 1943 to 1959. His hobby was the collection of South African works of art
He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Hofmeyr prize for poetry in 1975.