Renowned Journalist and Activist Ruth Weiss Passes Away at 101
Ruth Weiss, a renowned journalist, author, and activist, has passed away at the age of 101. Born in Germany in 1924, she emigrated to South Africa as a young Jew and dedicated her life to fighting injustice and promoting human rights.
Weiss spent her childhood in Aschaffenburg before moving to South Africa in 1936. There, she became a prominent journalist and author, using her platform to challenge the apartheid regime. She met and worked with notable figures like Nelson Mandela in her fight for justice.
Despite her exile, Weiss remained connected to her homeland. In 1999, she visited a girls' Realschule in Aschaffenburg for the first time, speaking to young people about courage, justice, and tolerance. In 2010, the school was named after her, tasked with carrying on her message of humanity and reconciliation.
Weiss' impact was recognised both in Germany and South Africa. She was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2014 and the South African national order 'Companion of O. R. Tambo' in 2023. In 2024, she received the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
To preserve Weiss' work and the values she stood for, the German Africa Foundation (Deutsche Afrika Stiftung) e.V. in Berlin was founded in 2019 by her circle of friends. Her legacy lives on through the Ruth-Weiss Society and the school named in her honour, inspiring future generations to continue her fight for justice and tolerance.
