Ruth First

Date of Birth: May 4, 1925

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: August 17, 1982

Biography

Ruth First was a prominent South African anti-apartheid activist, journalist, and scholar. Born into a politically active family, she dedicated her life to fighting racial segregation and injustice in South Africa. After graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand, she became involved in the anti-apartheid movement and joined the Communist Party of South Africa. Her investigative journalism and activism led to her arrest and detention without trial, which she documented in her book “117 Days.” In 1964, Ruth went into exile, continuing her work from abroad. She held academic positions in the UK and Mozambique, where she was assassinated in 1982 by a letter bomb sent by South African security agents.

5 Interesting Facts about Ruth First

1. Ruth First was married to Joe Slovo, a fellow anti-apartheid activist and leader of the South African Communist Party.

2. She was the first woman to hold the position of editor for “The Guardian,” an anti-apartheid newspaper.

3. Ruth First’s book “117 Days” is a firsthand account of her imprisonment and has been widely praised for its candid depiction of the apartheid regime’s brutality.

4. She played a significant role in the international anti-apartheid movement, raising awareness of the South African struggle through her writings and lectures.

5. Ruth First was assassinated by a letter bomb while working at the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ruth First

1. “We are all fighters in the struggle for freedom and justice.”

2. “The apartheid system must be dismantled, root and branch.”

3. “In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold.”

4. “True liberation can only be achieved through solidarity and collective action.”

5. “The pen is a powerful weapon against oppression and tyranny.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ruth First’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as her life’s focus was on activism and scholarship rather than financial accumulation.

Children

Ruth First and Joe Slovo had three daughters: Shawn Slovo, who became a screenwriter and producer; Gillian Slovo, a novelist, playwright, and memoirist; and Robyn Slovo, a film producer.