Ruth First

A South African anti-apartheid activist and journalist who exposed racial injustices through her writing and underground work.

Ruth First (1925–1982) was a South African journalist, academic, and anti-apartheid activist whose work exposed the brutalities of the apartheid regime. Born in Johannesburg, First joined the Communist Party of South Africa at 18, defying the era's racial segregation laws. She became a leading voice in the African National Congress (ANC), using her pen to challenge systemic racism.

First's writings, including her 1961 book Notes from the Underground, documented the lives of black South Africans under apartheid. Her reporting on forced removals and police brutality drew international attention. In 1963, she was arrested and detained for 118 days, later exiled to London.

From exile, First continued her activism, co-founding the African Research Institute. She returned to Mozambique in 1977 to assist the ANC's armed wing, FRELIMO. Tragically, she was assassinated in 1982 by a letter bomb sent by South African security forces. Her death galvanized global opposition to apartheid.

Ruth First's legacy lives on through her writings and the Ruth First Memorial Trust. Her courage in confronting state violence highlights the power of truth-telling in social justice movements. The documentary Ruth First: A Voice for Justice chronicles her life and impact.