Trailblazing Journalist Ruth Weiss, Apartheid Fighter, Receives Posthumous South African Honour

It is with a mixture of elation and solemnity that we celebrate the long-overdue recognition of Ruth Weiss, the indomitable journalist who dedicated her life to fighting apartheid and championing the cause of freedom in South Africa. Weiss’s fearless journalism and unwavering commitment to human rights have finally been acknowledged by the South African government with a prestigious national honor. This announcement comes as a reminder that the heroes who fought for justice and equality against apartheid’s oppressive regime must never be forgotten.

Born in Germany in 1923, Weiss fled to England in 1936 to escape the clutches of the Nazi regime. As a young woman, she moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1952 and later to South Africa in 1956. In the face of apartheid’s insidious system of racial segregation and the oppression of non-white South Africans, Weiss’s journalistic talents were soon put to work, exposing the atrocities committed by the South African government.

Throughout her illustrious career, Ruth Weiss bravely tackled the issues of apartheid, consistently shedding light on the government’s reprehensible policies and actions. As a correspondent for various newspapers, including The Guardian, she reported on the inhumane treatment of political prisoners and activists. She was the first journalist to expose the conditions in which Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held at the infamous Robben Island prison.

Her work did not go unnoticed by the apartheid government. In 1965, Weiss was placed under a banning order, which restricted her movement and barred her from publishing her work. Undeterred, she continued to write under pseudonyms, smuggling her stories out of the country to be published abroad. She was eventually forced to flee South Africa in 1968, finding refuge in Zambia, where she continued her fight against apartheid through her writing.

As an advocate for a free and democratic South Africa, Ruth Weiss’s work was instrumental in rallying international support for the anti-apartheid movement. Her fearless and tireless efforts to expose the true nature of the apartheid regime contributed to the growing global condemnation of South Africa’s racist policies.

In a fitting tribute to her immense contributions, Ruth Weiss has now been honored by the South African government with the Order of Ikhamanga, a prestigious award that recognizes individuals who have made exceptional achievements in the fields of arts, culture, literature, journalism, and sports. This recognition underscores the lasting impact of Weiss’s work on the fight against apartheid and the pursuit of justice in South Africa.

Despite her age, Ruth Weiss continued to be a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy until her passing in 2021. As we celebrate this long-overdue recognition, we are reminded of the importance of acknowledging and honoring the countless individuals who, like Weiss, dedicated their lives to dismantling the oppressive apartheid system.

The legacy of Ruth Weiss lives on in the spirit of truth, freedom, and justice that continues to inspire journalists and activists around the world. Her courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to the cause of equality serve as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of the human spirit. May her memory continue to shine as a guiding light in the ongoing quest for justice and equality, both in South Africa and beyond.