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A colourful history

Our Residents

When we’re little, we all want to change the world “one day when we grow up”, but Professor Richard Ernest (Dick) van der Ross, can lay claim to having done exactly that. This resident of Evergreen Bergvliet has spent large parts of his 96 years adding colour to the fabric of South African society and leaving his mark on our history. In his time, he has worn many hats, including teacher, politician, journalist, researcher, author, historian and ambassador.

Of all the things he’s been involved in, including the anti-apartheid struggle, education is closest to his heart. He says, “My life and my living has been in education.” His grandparents planted the seed early on. They were farm labourers but they knew the value of learning and education, and it rubbed off on their son, David, Richard’s dad. Just like their father, Richard and his siblings Bob and Edith all became teachers. His father was one of the first two people of colour to graduate from the University of Cape Town (UCT). In 1952 Prof van der Ross received his PhD in Education from UCT, and he went on to receive honourary doctorates from four South African universities. In 1975, he was named Rector of the University of the Western Cape.

He has waged a lifelong battle against racial injustice, identifying very strongly with his own ethnic group and says with conviction, “I am Coloured and I will say it and sing it and talk it.” He authored many articles and a number of books, including his autobiography, A Blow to the Hoop, which illustrates his love and dedication to education, and his efforts to contribute to the transition of South Africa and the improvement of conditions for Coloured people. He was also co-founder and first leader of the Labour Party of South Africa and the first editor of the Cape Herald newspaper. A remarkable life, lived to the full!