Motau was the first black female photographer who was employed by a South African newspaper as photo editor.

She has completed numerous documentary photo essays and series,[4] among others Shebeens,[5] Sonnyboy's Story,[6] or Women and Municipal Service Delivery.

2019 Paris Photo international photography art fair, represented by Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg[10] Yithi Laba.

A group exhibition by Lindeka Qampi, Neo Ntsoma, Zanele Muholi, Ruth Motau and Berni Searle at Market Photo Workshop, Johannesburg[11] 2006 Ranjith Kally, Senzeni Marasela and Ruth Motau at Goodman Gallery[12] 2002 South African Family Stories: A Group Portrait.

IZIKO South African National Gallery, Cape Town; KIT Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam[13][14] 1995 Black Looks, White Myths exhibition at Johannesburg Biennale, curated by Octavio Zaya, Danielle Tilkin and Tumelo Mosaka[15][16] Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil