I saw Pieter in May at the Freedom Too! gig we did at the Royal Festival Hall. I first saw him in the late Eighties at the Two Dogs And Freedom concert, with distinguished South Africans in London, plus some British actors and film people. He's a comedian within a theatrical tradition and uproariously funny - he has a brilliant stage presence.
He uses a mixture of acid and tickling feather. The subject matter isn't obviously funny, although oppression has always produced great humour. His war with apartheid wasn't just against legislated prejudice, but attitudes as well - the lack of humour, self-consciousness and brutality.
His Afrikaans housewife (Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout) makes Dame Edna Everage look like a reverential suburbanite. He's outrageous, very satirical but with bawdy gags and great political subtlety. I haven't seen Foreign Aids yet, but few would dare to take on the issue of Aids the way he does as direct confrontation. He feels passionately about the fight for HIV-positive people. The death of the little boy [Nkosi Johnson] recently should convince everyone that a crusade is essential.
There are many ways to combat Aids - through medicine, skill, science, generosity - and Pieter ignites people's understanding. He is a risk-taker and he gets away with it as part of his genius. He's full of insights, comedy and social commentary. He mobilises minds and gets people to see they must stand up. And that's remarkable. I'd strive to get to see him. I'll do my damnedest.
