Cape Town born Dr Ruben Richards survived gangsterism and apartheid on the Cape Flats. He has evolved from a clothing factory worker and artisan to a seasoned democratic governance leader, author, international thought leader and South African nation builder. Ruben has published widely on the economy, urban development, history, and biblical studies. He completed four degrees in three different countries including the USA and Switzerland, graduating with a PhD from the University of Cape Town in 1995.
Ruben’s recent two-volume publication, Bastaards or Humans (2017/2018), has been endorsed for inclusion in the history curriculum of high school learners. This work, combined with his restorative and global leadership program delivered on Robben Island and based on indigenous San and Khoi leadership and wisdom is ground-breaking.
Ruben is a widely travelled South African who has accumulated a wealth of professional and academic experience across a variety of disciplines. He has held positions such in the private sector such as CEO of large engineering company, Chairman of the Board, and various company directorships. In the public sector, Ruben has held positions such as Deputy Director-General (Scorpions), Executive Secretary (Truth and Reconciliation Commission). He is currently the Executive Mayor of Cederberg local municipality. In academia, Ruben has served as visiting Adjunct Professor (Wits University P&DM), Texas Christian University (Texas-USA) and Albion College (Michigan-USA).
In 2012, Ruben established a non-profit and public benefit organisation (Ruben Richards Foundation NPO 116-249) which has as a vision the facilitation of healing and peace in traumatised communities – particularly those areas plagued with gang related crime and violence. In 2015 the Foundation was awarded the National Reconciliation Award by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.
