South Africa mourns for the death of Nobel-prize laureate and renowned anit-apartheid chronicler Nadine Gordimer  known to be one of the world's most powerful voices against apartheid.

Gordimer, 90, peacefully died in her sleep in Johannesburg on Sunday, according to her family's lawyer. She was with her son, Hugo and daughter, Oriane when she passed away.

Like Us on Facebook

Born in November 20, 1923 to a Lithuanian watchmaker father and a British middle-class mother, her life's highlights include her winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991.

She also counted as one of her "proudest days" the moment when she testified on behalf of a group of anti-apartheid activists who were charged with treason during the 1980s.

Famous for her bravery until the end, Gordimer began her writing journey when she was only nine and was able to produce 15 novels and several volumes of non-fiction, short stories and other literature.

Published in 40 languages worldwide, her work focused on themes about the consequences of apartheid, exile and alienation. South Africa's apartheid regime banned three of her books.

During the country's struggle for freedom, she was one of the leading members of Nelson Mandela's African National Congress, accepting the challenge of waging war against the tyrants.

"Having lived here for 65 years, I am well aware for how long black people refrained from violence. We white people are responsible for it," she once said.

Her biographical sketches on Mandela and others accused with him were sent overseas, publicizing the Rivonia trial in 1963 to 1964. She was one of the first people he convened with after his release in 1990.

In more recent reports, Gordimer focused her crusade closer to home when ANC proposed secrecy laws that endangered the freedom of expression. At the time, she was able to put journalists and whistle-blowers in jail and shortly before her death she remained active socially, joining the Johannesburg's Market Theatre.

Tributes for the apartheid chronicler were held all over South Africa on Monday.

TagsNadine Godimer, Nelson Mandela