Ruth was born in Durban, 2 February 1939. She was known as “Mamgo”. Ruth attended school at Kay Maria, Clairwood Government Native School, Loram Secondary School and St Chads College where she obtained the then University J.C.
Ruth started acting at the age of 12. In 1968 she started doing radio drama, storytelling and commercials. Her career went from strength to strength; from national, multilingual TV to international feature film. Some of her work includes:
- Ifa lakwaMthethwa (1986)
- Undenzani Melwane (1987)
- Max (1988)
- Going Up (1989)
- Hlala Kwabafileyo (1990) for which she received an Artes Award
- Sgudi’ is Snaysi (1992)
- African Skies (1993)
- Mtsamaye (1994), a travel documentary
- Suburban Bliss (1995)
- Patron for Surf Drama Festival Theatre (1996)
- Panic Mechanic (1997), feature film
- Granny Muffin (1997)
- The Vet Christine (1998)
- The Good Woman of Sharkville (1999)
- Mr Bones (2000)
- The Piano Player (2001) and
- I wish I was in Jail (2005)
Ruth toured America and Canada with Zanendaba in 1992 for the World Wide Children’s Festival. She was also involved in TV commercials and road shows for industrial theatre (AIDS awareness), fire awareness and with the Department of Agriculture and Environment.
She was a performance lecturer at Movietech Film & Television College, Durban South Africa until her death in December of 2010.