Ruth First

Ruth First was a prominent South African journalist, academic, and anti-apartheid activist who dedicated her life to fighting against the apartheid regime in South Africa. She was a key figure in the African National Congress and worked closely with other notable activists, including Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. First's work took her to various parts of the world, including London, where she was exiled for a period, and Mozambique, where she eventually settled. Her life's work was deeply connected to the struggles of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and other anti-apartheid leaders.

● Early Life and Education

Ruth First was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a family of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants. She grew up in a community that valued social justice and was exposed to the works of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin from a young age. First attended Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, where she studied sociology and became involved in the South African Communist Party. During her time at university, she was influenced by the ideas of Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, and she began to develop her own Marxist perspective. She also met her future husband, Joe Slovo, who was a fellow communist and anti-apartheid activist.

● Career

First began her career as a journalist, working for the Johannesburg Guardian and later the New Age newspaper. She was known for her fearless reporting and her ability to expose the injustices of the apartheid regime. First's work took her to various parts of South Africa, including Soweto and Sharpeville, where she witnessed firsthand the brutal suppression of black South Africans. She also worked with other notable journalists, including Brian Bunting and Rusty Bernstein, to expose the truth about the apartheid regime. First's career was marked by her commitment to social justice and her willingness to challenge the authorities, which led to her being banned and eventually forced into exile.

● Activism and Politics

First was a key figure in the African National Congress and worked closely with other notable activists, including Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. She was involved in the Defiance Campaign and the Congress of the People, and she played a leading role in the development of the Freedom Charter. First's activism took her to various parts of the world, including London, where she was exiled for a period, and Mozambique, where she eventually settled. She worked with other anti-apartheid organizations, including the South African Communist Party and the Pan Africanist Congress, to coordinate resistance against the apartheid regime. First's activism was influenced by the ideas of Frantz Fanon and Amilcar Cabral, and she was committed to the principles of Marxism-Leninism.

● Personal Life

First was married to Joe Slovo, a fellow communist and anti-apartheid activist. The couple had three daughters, Shawn Slovo, Gillian Slovo, and Robyn Slovo, who all became involved in the anti-apartheid movement. First's family was deeply affected by her activism, and they faced harassment and intimidation from the apartheid authorities. Despite the challenges, First remained committed to her cause and continued to work tirelessly for social justice. She was also friends with other notable activists, including Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada, and she worked closely with them to coordinate resistance against the apartheid regime.

● Assassination and Legacy

First was assassinated on August 17, 1982, in Maputo, Mozambique, where she had settled after being forced into exile. Her death was a result of a letter bomb sent by the apartheid regime, and it was a devastating blow to the anti-apartheid movement. First's legacy continues to inspire activists and scholars around the world, and her work remains a powerful testament to the struggle for social justice. She is remembered alongside other notable anti-apartheid leaders, including Steve Biko and Chris Hani, and her name is invoked in the same breath as Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. First's assassination was widely condemned by the international community, including the United Nations and the African Union.

● Works

First wrote several books, including 117 Days, which chronicles her experiences in prison, and The Barrel of a Gun, which examines the role of the military in African politics. She also edited several collections of essays, including The South African Connection and Libya: The Elusive Revolution. First's work has been widely praised for its insight and analysis, and she is regarded as one of the most important South African writers and thinkers of her generation. Her writing has been compared to that of Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Assia Djebar, and she is widely regarded as a leading voice on African politics and social justice. First's work continues to be studied by scholars and activists around the world, and her legacy remains a powerful inspiration to those fighting for human rights and social justice. Category:South African anti-apartheid activists