A Passion for Freedom

by Ramphele, Mamphela

• ISBN13: 9781784530426
• ISBN10: 1784530425
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-11-26
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris

Summary

Mamphela Ramphele is a figurehead of modern South Africa. The partner of Steve Biko, until his death in 1977, she has demonstrated extraordinary political leadership and statesmanship, most recently as the leader of the Agang SA party. In this highly acclaimed autobiography, Mamphela Ramphele vividly describes her extraordinary life – when she was born to teacher parents in the rural village of Kranspoort, few would have predicted that she would become not only a medical doctor, but an international leader and the founder of not one but two new political movements. As a young woman, Mamphela was instrumental in creating the ideology of Black Consciousness with her partner, Steve Biko. As an accomplished and respected businesswoman who had reached the pinnacle of success, she felt compelled to start Agang SA, to provide South African voters with an alternative to the increasingly corrupt ANC. Richly anecdotal, this book describes her loves and losses and her remarkable successes in both politics and business.

Author Biography

Mamphela Ramphele is a leading figure in South African politics. A medical doctor and anthropologist by training, she first rose to prominence as a student, when she was a vocal member of the Black Consciousness Movement and associate of Steve Biko. She served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town and as a Director at the World Bank in Washington DC before returning to South Africa as Director of Corp Capital. She started Letsema Circle, a community development initiative, and then the Citizen's Movement, before finally entering politics. Her Agang South Africa party was launched in 2013 and she continues to have a high profile as one of the most steadfastly independent and critical voices.

Table of Contents

Preface
1. One Hot Afternoon In December
2. Moeng Etla Ka Gešo, Re Je Ka Wena
3. The Notion Of Home
4. Bosofasonke
5. School, The Institution
6. Matriculation Is Not A Mattress
7. The Death Of My Father
8. Initiation Into Activism
9. Frank Talk And Black Consciousness
10. Personal Relationships
11. '. . . Ours Is To Accept And Bear The Pain'
12. Community Life In King
13. A Huge Historical Burden
14. Detention
15. 'Well, Dr Ramphele, Goodbye, You Bitch!'
16. A Brief Interlude
17. That Fateful Day – 12 September 1977
18. A Matter Of Survival
19. Forging An Independent Lifestyle
20. Cape Town
21. As Mother And Professional
22. When The Engine Stopped
23. Smelling The Flowers
24. The Pain Of Loss
25. Stretching Across Boundaries
26. In My Wildest Dreams
27. If You Had All The Cards On Your Side
28. A Woman In A Hurry
29. The VC Years
30. Funding The Changes
31. Moving On
32. An Exit Strategy
33. Being An Active Citizen
34. Mobilising Against The Fear
35. Agang
Index