eventREF E-0011469Revised
Event record
Ruth First is born
- Date
- 4 May 1925
- Updated
- 4 May 2026
Ruth First
Ruth Heloise First, journalist, academic, political activist and the wife of former South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Joe Slovo was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her political involvement started while she was still a student at the University of the Witwatersrand. She helped to establish the Federation of Progressive Students. Her fellow university students included Nelson Mandela, Joe Slovo and Eduardo Mondlane, the freedom fighter from Mozambique and the first leader of Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO).
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- 01Verwey, E.J. (ed)(1995). New Dictionary of South African Biography, v.1, Pretoria: HSRC.
Last updated · 4 May 2026
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Ruth First is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011469
South African History Online (2011) 'Ruth First is born', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011469 (Accessed: 17 August 2026).
South African History Online, Ruth First is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011469, (accessed 17 August 2026).
"Ruth First is born." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011469. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.
South African History Online. "Ruth First is born." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011469.
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