Donald Woods, the South African newspaper editor who drew world attention to the case of slain black consciousness leader Steve Biko, died on Sunday in England, his family said.
Mr Woods, 67, who had been ill with cancer for the past two years, died in hospital near London surrounded by his wife Wendy and five children.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela had telephoned good wishes to Mr Woods in hospital only a few days ago.
Mr Woods was editor of the Daily Dispatchfrom 1965 to 1977, when he was banned by the National Party government and fled to London with his family.
Biko and Woods were immortalised in the film Cry Freedom, based on the biography Woods wrote after he went into exile in Britain to escape police harassment because of his friendship with Biko.
During his exile, he wrote several books and often travelled to the US to campaign against apartheid.