Ruth First
Encyclopedia
Ruth First was a white South Africa
n anti-apartheid activist and scholar born in Johannesburg
, South Africa
. She was killed by a parcel bomb addressed specifically to her in Mozambique
, where she worked in exile from South Africa.
as Jewish immigrants in 1906 and became founder members of the South African Communist Party
(SACP). Ruth First was born in 1925 and brought up in Johannesburg
. Like her parents, she joined the SACP in 1921, which was allied with the African National Congress
in its struggle to overthrow the South African government.
She attended Jeppe High School for Girls
. The first person in her family to attend University, she received her Bachelor's degree
from the University of the Witwatersrand
in 1946. While in University she found that "on a South African campus,the student issues that matter are national issues" With this political outlook as a student at Witwatersrand, she was involved in the founding of the Federation of Progressive Students, also known as the Progressive Students League. Nelson Mandela
, future President
of South Africa
and Eduardo Mondlane
the first leader of the Mozambique freedom movement FRELIMO were among her fellow students.
Once graduated from university, Ruth worked as a research assistant for the Social Welfare Division of the Johannesburg City Council. In 1946, Ruth's political position in the communist party boosted significantly after a series of mine strikes in 1946 where top members of the Communist Party were arrested. First then became the editor-in-chief of the radical newspaper The Guardian, which was subsequently banned by the state.
In 1949 she married Joe Slovo
, a Jewish South African anti-apartheid activist and communist.
In addition to her work with The Guardian and its successors, in 1955 Ruth First assumed the position of editor of a radical political journal called Fighting Talk. First was not only active in the anti-apartheid movement through her journalism, but also through political action. First and her husband Slovo were founding members of the African National Congress which resisted the South African government. She was also active in the extensive riots of the 1950s.
of 1956-1961, alongside 156 other leading anti-apartheid activists who were key figures in the Congress Alliance
. After the state of emergency, that followed the Sharpesville Massacre in 1960, First was listed and banned. She could not attend meetings, publish, and could not be quoted. In 1963 during the government's crackdown First was imprisoned and held in isolation without charge for 117 days under the South African apartheid government's ninety-day detention laws. She was the first white women to be detained under the ninety-day detention law.
in March 1964, where she was active in the Anti-Apartheid Movement
. She became a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester
in 1972. Between 1973-1978 she lectured in development studies at the University of Durham
, although she spent periods of secondment at universities in Dar es Salaam and Lourenco Marques (Maputo).
In November 1978 First took up a post as Director of the research training programme at the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane
in Maputo
, Mozambique
. Here she continued to work for the downfall of the apartheid regime. She was assassinated by order of Craig Williamson
, a major in the South African Police
, on August 17, 1982, when she opened a letter bomb that had been sent to her university.
The 1988 movie A World Apart, from a screenplay by her daughter Shawn Slovo
and directed by Chris Menges
, is Ruth First's film biography. One of her other daughters, Gillian Slovo
, is also a writer.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n anti-apartheid activist and scholar born in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She was killed by a parcel bomb addressed specifically to her in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, where she worked in exile from South Africa.
Family and Education
Ruth First's parents, Julius First and Matilda Levetan, immigrated to South Africa from LatviaLatvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
as Jewish immigrants in 1906 and became founder members of the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
(SACP). Ruth First was born in 1925 and brought up in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. Like her parents, she joined the SACP in 1921, which was allied with the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
in its struggle to overthrow the South African government.
She attended Jeppe High School for Girls
Jeppe High School for Girls
Jeppe High School for Girls is a high school in Johannesburg, South Africa for girls from grades 8 to 12. The school is known colloquially as Jeppe Girls.- History :...
. The first person in her family to attend University, she received her Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
in 1946. While in University she found that "on a South African campus,the student issues that matter are national issues" With this political outlook as a student at Witwatersrand, she was involved in the founding of the Federation of Progressive Students, also known as the Progressive Students League. Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, future President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Eduardo Mondlane
Eduardo Mondlane
Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane served as President of the Mozambican Liberation Front from 1962, the year that FRELIMO was founded in Tanzania, until his assassination in 1969.-Early life:...
the first leader of the Mozambique freedom movement FRELIMO were among her fellow students.
Once graduated from university, Ruth worked as a research assistant for the Social Welfare Division of the Johannesburg City Council. In 1946, Ruth's political position in the communist party boosted significantly after a series of mine strikes in 1946 where top members of the Communist Party were arrested. First then became the editor-in-chief of the radical newspaper The Guardian, which was subsequently banned by the state.
In 1949 she married Joe Slovo
Joe Slovo
For Joe Slovo Informal Settlement in Cape Town, see: Joe Slovo .Joe Slovo was a South African politician, long-time leader of the South African Communist Party , and leading member of the African National Congress.-Life:Slovo was born in Obeliai, Lithuania to a Jewish family who emigrated to South...
, a Jewish South African anti-apartheid activist and communist.
In addition to her work with The Guardian and its successors, in 1955 Ruth First assumed the position of editor of a radical political journal called Fighting Talk. First was not only active in the anti-apartheid movement through her journalism, but also through political action. First and her husband Slovo were founding members of the African National Congress which resisted the South African government. She was also active in the extensive riots of the 1950s.
Treason Trial and Detention
Ruth First was one of the defendants in the Treason TrialTreason Trial
The Treason Trial was a trial in which 156 people, including Nelson Mandela, were arrested in a raid and accused of treason in South Africa in 1956....
of 1956-1961, alongside 156 other leading anti-apartheid activists who were key figures in the Congress Alliance
Congress Alliance
The Congress Alliance was an anti-apartheid coalition formed in South Africa in the 1950s. Led by the ANC, the Congress was a multi-racial alliance committed to a democratic South Africa.- Congress Alliance, multi-racial struggle, and the Freedom Charter :...
. After the state of emergency, that followed the Sharpesville Massacre in 1960, First was listed and banned. She could not attend meetings, publish, and could not be quoted. In 1963 during the government's crackdown First was imprisoned and held in isolation without charge for 117 days under the South African apartheid government's ninety-day detention laws. She was the first white women to be detained under the ninety-day detention law.
Exile and Assassination
First went into exile in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in March 1964, where she was active in the Anti-Apartheid Movement
Anti-Apartheid Movement
Anti-Apartheid Movement , originally known as the Boycott Movement, was a British organization that was at the center of the international movement opposing South Africa's system of apartheid and supporting South Africa's Blacks....
. She became a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
in 1972. Between 1973-1978 she lectured in development studies at the University of Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, although she spent periods of secondment at universities in Dar es Salaam and Lourenco Marques (Maputo).
In November 1978 First took up a post as Director of the research training programme at the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane
Universidade Eduardo Mondlane
The Eduardo Mondlane University is the oldest and largest university in Mozambique. The UEM is located in Maputo and has about 8,000 students.-History:...
in Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Here she continued to work for the downfall of the apartheid regime. She was assassinated by order of Craig Williamson
Craig Williamson
Craig Michael Williamson , a former South African police major, was exposed as a spy in 1980, and was involved in a series of state-sponsored overseas bombings, burglaries, kidnappings, assassinations and propaganda during the apartheid era.-Infiltration:In the late 1970s, Craig Williamson had...
, a major in the South African Police
South African Police
The South African Police was the country's police force until 1994. The SAP traced its origin to the Dutch Watch, a paramilitary organization formed by settlers in the Cape in 1655, initially to protect civilians against attack and later to maintain law and order...
, on August 17, 1982, when she opened a letter bomb that had been sent to her university.
Memoir and Other Media Tributes
First's book 117 Days is her account of her 1963 arrest, imprisonment, and interrogations by the South African Police Special Branch. It was first published in 1965. First imprisonment was characterised by extensive solitary confinement and the memoir provides a detailed account of how she endured isolation and sensory deprivation" and withstood "pressure to provide information about her comrades to the Special Branch."The 1988 movie A World Apart, from a screenplay by her daughter Shawn Slovo
Shawn Slovo
Shawn Slovo is a screenwriter, best known for the film A World Apart, based on her childhood in South Africa under the apartheid. She is the daughter of the late South African Communist Party leaders Joe Slovo and Ruth First...
and directed by Chris Menges
Chris Menges
Chris Menges BSC, ASC, is an English cinematographer and film director. He is a member of both the American and British Societies of Cinematographers.-Life and career:...
, is Ruth First's film biography. One of her other daughters, Gillian Slovo
Gillian Slovo
Gillian Slovo is a South African born novelist, playwright and memoirist.Her novels were at first predominantly of the crime and thriller genres, including a series featuring the detective Kate Baeier but she has since written more literary fiction...
, is also a writer.
See also
- Marion SpargMarion SpargMarion Monica Sparg is a South African activist, former guerrilla and public administrator.-Struggle years:Marion Sparg was one of the few white women to join Umkhonto we Sizwe , the armed wing of the African National Congress during South Africa's apartheid era...
- white female ANC guerilla sentenced to 25 years in prison for treason - Today there is a women's residence in Rhodes University in Grahamstown dedicated to her life and achievements.
External links
- Ruth First Educational Trust provides opportunities for South African postgraduate students to study at Durham University.
- The First pan-African martyr, Mail & Guardian, Adekeye Adebajo, 25th Aug 2010
- Ruth First Jeppe High School for Girls Memorial Trust was set up in July 2010 and will award scholarships for full tuition at Jeppe High School for Girls for the duration of secondary school education. It is aimed at girls in Grade 7 that show characteristics of leadership, courage, determination and the ability to influence their community positively.