The play, 'No Place For You', is written by dramatist Anthony Akerman and takes one into the mind and heart of one of South Africa's most passionate activists and intellectuals. For SAfm's executive producer of Drama, Julia-Ann Malone, there was no better way of marking this important Women's Day anniversary at the same time as paying tribute to one of the struggle's most significant female figures.
"'117 Days' was published in South Africa for the first time this year, Ruth's arrest and detention was also in August and to use her experiences to symbolise the suffering endured by so many at the hands of the Special Branch seemed entirely appropriate.
"The common theme is the courage and resilience shown by so many women throughout apartheid's darkest days with many of them, including Ruth First, eventually paying the ultimate price for their beliefs. It is something of which we, as a nation, should be extremely proud and which should be celebrated. This remarkable work is a move towards that."
The role of Ruth First will be played by South African Fiona Ramsay, who is inspired by the opportunity. "She has long been a personal heroine of mine," says Ramsay. "I often wonder if I would have had the courage to do what she did in the face of such a threatening regime. I feel very privileged to have the chance to bring her experience to life and to try and make people understand what she went through."
Although Ruth First survived her prison ordeal, in 1982 she was assassinated in Maputo when a letter-bomb, believed to have been sent to her by apartheid operatives, exploded in her office.
This is the second original work inspired by a remarkable figure in South African history that has been commissioned by SAfm from Anthony Akerman. On Human Rights Day in March, the station broadcast 'The Africanist', based on the life of PAC founder, Robert Sobukwe, which marked a return to radio drama.
The play was preceded by a discussion on Robert himself which led to many struggle veterans phoning the station.
As a further tribute to the courage and tenacity of South African women during the struggle, SAfm is sponsoring a new production of Wathint' Abafazi Wathint' Imbokodo [You Strike a Woman You Strike a Rock] -play, inspired by the events of 9 August 1956. It opened at the Grahamstown Festival and is currently touring to the country.
'No Place for You' will be broadcast on SAfm (104 - 107FM) at 10am on Wednesday, 9 August. It will be preceded, at 9.30am, by a discussion about Ruth First presented by Xolani Gwala and include as a guest, Gillian Slovo, one of Ruth First's daughters.
