One of South African's finest writers and poets has succumbed to cancer.

Award-winning Professor Stephen Watson, 56, died in the early hours of yesterday morning in Cape Town.

Watson was a professor in the English language and literature department at the University of Cape Town.

Ben Williams, editor of Book SA, said his death was a tragic loss.

"Stephen's mind had much to offer to the South African literature."

Watson graduated in 1975 with a BA in English, obtaining his doctorate in 1993 from UCT. He began tutoring in 1980 and was confirmed to the post in 1986. In 1983 he published his first book, Poems 1977-82, followed by many collections of poems and essays. His last book, The Music in the Ice, came out last year.