She was later sent to boarding school run by Irish nuns in Rustenburg,[5] where the convent environment introduced her to a structured yet culturally distinct educational experience.
In 1972 she volunteered at the non-racial Space Theatre in Cape Town, where she was encouraged to write The Sacrifice of Kreli, about a king who takes himself into exile rather than be enslaved by the British.
From 1979 to 1983 she lived in the United States, participating in a writers' conference at the University of Iowa and working with theatre groups in New York City.
[7] Fatima Dike’s contributions to South African theatre span several decades and various roles, including stage manager, actress, playwright, and director.
Her work reflects Cape Town’s linguistic diversity, often incorporating isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans to reach a broader audience.