Passion for Freedom

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.

• 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