Mamphela Ramphele

A prominent anti-apartheid activist and education reformer who championed equality and social justice in South Africa.

Mamphela Ramphele (b. 1944) is a South African academic and social activist whose courage in confronting apartheid's injustices laid foundations for post-apartheid nation-building. Growing up in a rural Transkei village, she became the first Black woman to study medicine at the University of Natal in 1967, but her studies were interrupted when she was arrested for anti-apartheid activism in 1976. This led her to shift focus to community development, co-founding the Azanian People's Organization with Steve Biko.

Ramphele's 1980s work with the South African Community-based Health Care Association pioneered participatory development models, linking healthcare to broader social justice. Her concept of 'development as if people matter' became a cornerstone of post-apartheid policy. After Nelson Mandela's release, she became the first Black woman to lead the University of Cape Town (1999-2004), where she initiated landmark reforms including:

• Removing statues of colonial figures
• Establishing the Centre for Rural Health
• Expanding scholarships for previously disadvantaged students

Her 2004 book Thabo Mbeki: The People's President? critically examined leadership challenges in the new democracy. As Agang SA party leader (2013-2016), she challenged corruption in government through grassroots mobilization campaigns.

Ramphele's legacy includes the Ramphele Foundation, which trains young leaders in ethical governance. Her work demonstrates how academic rigor combined with grassroots activism can drive systemic change, earning her the Nelson Mandela Centenary Award in 2018.