Book Launch: Selected Writings by Ruth First introduced by Vashna Jagarnath

Date: Thursday 4 May 2023

Time: 6:00pm

Venue: The Commune


Inkani Books and The International Union of Left Publishers invite you to the launch of Ruth First: Selected Writings introduced by an essay on First’s life and legacy, written by Vashna Jagarnath. 

Ruth First held multiple roles during the struggles of her time as a communist militant, journalist, and leading intellectual in South Africa. She was born into a political family in Johannesburg in 1925 and, as a student in the 1940s, founded an important organisation, the Federation of Progressive Students with other anti-apartheid activists and was a leader in the South African Communist Party. 

Presenter: Dr Vashna Jagarnath is a director of Pan Africa Today. She works in the office of the General Secretary of Numsa. She is also Deputy General Secretary of the Socialists Revolutionary Workers’ Party.

Presenter: Ronnie Kasrils served in the liberation movement from 1960, and in uMkhonto weSizwe from its inception. He served in government as minister of various portfolios from 1994-2008.

Facilitator: Amanda Xulu is a manuscript editor, writer, researcher and project manager at Totem Media, an exhibition and museum development company in Johannesburg.