A parcel bomb delivered to her office in Maputo ended the life of Ruth First on 17 August 1982. A persistent critic of the South African state, she spent decades documenting the structural failures of apartheid through investigative journalism, academic research, and active involvement in movements dedicated to overthrowing the institutionalised racial segregation of her home country.
Early Political Development
Born in Johannesburg on 4 May 1925 to parents who were founding members of the Communist Party of South Africa, First entered a politicised environment at a young age. During her time as a student at the University of the Witwatersrand, she engaged with figures who would later lead significant national movements, including Nelson Mandela and Eduardo Mondlane. She received a bachelor's degree in Social Science in 1946, excelling in anthropology, sociology, and economic history.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Journalism and Activism
First became the editor-in-chief of the radical newspaper The Guardian, which provided a platform to expose the realities of apartheid policies following the 1948 election of the National Party. She later served as editor of the political journal Fighting Talk. Her activism extended to the African National Congress and the South African Congress of Democrats. She contributed to the drafting of the Freedom Charter but was unable to attend its presentation in Kliptown due to a government banning order.
Legal Harassment and Detention
As a defendant in the Treason Trial of 1956–1961, First faced extensive state scrutiny before her eventual acquittal. Following the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, she lived underground and traveled to Namibia to conduct research for her book South West Africa. In 1963, she became the first white woman detained under the Ninety-Day Detention Law, held for 117 days in isolation. Her confinement included questioning regarding the raid on Lilliesleaf Farm and a brief hunger strike.
Life in Exile
After her release and subsequent re-arrest, First eventually left South Africa. She maintained her focus on political scholarship and anti-apartheid advocacy while in exile, holding a position at Durham University. Her work as a university teacher, writer, and journalist continued until her assassination by a device constructed by the South African police while she was living in Mozambique.
Fast facts
- Born: 4 May 1925, Johannesburg
- Died: 17 August 1982, Maputo
- Education: University of the Witwatersrand
- Spouse: Joe Slovo
- Detention: 117 days under Ninety-Day Detention Law
- Occupation: Writer, politician, university teacher, journalist
- First book: South West Africa
Questions readers ask
What was the cause of Ruth First's death?
She was killed by a parcel bomb sent by South African police in 1982 while she was working in Mozambique.
Which university did she attend?
She was educated at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Social Science in 1946.
.jpg)