A Rare Gift To The Struggle: Ma Vesta Smith and The Everyday Politics of Liberation by Maria Suriano

ISBN: 9781431435197

Jacana Media, December 2025

Paperback, 266 pages

‘This uplifting biography of a remarkable woman, a legend in the shadows, illuminates the multi-layered essence of humanity’s struggle, from the shoots of green grass to the limitless sky.’
– Ronnie Kasrils, author of Armed & Dangerous

By uncovering the untold story of Vesta Smith (1922–2013), a community activist from Noordgesig, Soweto, this biography addresses a crucial gap in the literature on the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Based on extensive interviews and previously unexamined archival materials, it reveals how her Christian faith fuelled her commitment to non-racialism and lifelong pursuit of social justice and how her non-sectarian, anti-apartheid activism connected generations, ideologies and communities.

This book reframes Ma Vesta’s legacy, celebrating her contributions while offering fresh insights into non-racialism, the politics of the everyday and the role of black women and Christians in the liberation struggle. A powerful tale of resilience and hope, it stands as an inspiration for contemporary movements seeking social justice and community empowerment.