Centenarian writer Ruth Weiss, known for her rebellious writing style, passes away at 101 years old.

In the small town of Fuerth, near Nuremberg, Germany, a remarkable woman named Ruth Weiss was born in 1924. Her life, spanning over a century, was filled with adversity, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of justice.

Ruth's early years were marked by the rise of antisemitism in post-war Germany. Faced with denial and hostility, she, along with her family, fled to South Africa in 1936 to escape the looming Holocaust.

The apartheid regime was implemented in South Africa in 1948, but racial segregation and oppression were already present before that. Ruth, however, found herself in a country that would become her home for many decades.

In her later years, Ruth turned her experiences into powerful stories. She became a prolific author and journalist, penning fiction, children's books, and her memoir. Her words were not just stories; they were weapons, as her Nobel nomination described her as waging war with her words.

Ruth's writing made her a highly sought-after speaker on the violence and brutality she had encountered. She was a voice for the voiceless, shining a light on injustice and fighting against colonialism and apartheid.

One of her most significant encounters was with Nelson Mandela, whom she met in a friend's kitchen before his jailing in 1962. Her work continued even after Mandela's imprisonment, as she returned to Africa in the early 1970s, working for the Times of Zambia and occasionally for the BBC and Reuters.

Ruth's commitment to peace and justice was recognised by the Nobel Committee, who nominated her as one of a group of one thousand women for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. Her nomination highlighted her selfless work for peace across the globe.

In 2023, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa honoured Ruth's contributions by making her a Companion of the Order of O.R. Tambo. This prestigious award recognised her significant contribution to the liberation struggle and her unwavering fight against injustice.

Throughout her life, Ruth faced adversity and loss. Her best friend, Leah, was deported to Poland and died in a gas chamber. Yet, despite these hardships, Ruth found respect and admiration in Africa. Africans respected her despite her sex and treated her with the respect typically shown to older people on the continent.

Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, even nicknamed her "Comrade Ruth" and told her she was "Zambian in spirit". This spirit, this unyielding fight for justice, is what defined Ruth Weiss's life.

Ruth Weiss witnessed and wrote about some of the 20th century's greatest crimes, including antisemitism in Nazi Germany and racism in apartheid South Africa. Her life serves as a testament to the power of words, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of standing up against injustice.

Her legacy continues to inspire, reminding us all that each of us has a role to play in the pursuit of peace and justice.

Centenarian writer Ruth Weiss, known for her rebellious writing style, passes away at 101 years old.