The passing of struggle veteran, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, saw national celebrities sharing pictures of their all black outfits with doeks. Some were sharing quotes on women empowerment, paying tribute to the “Mother of the Nation.”
As we enter Freedom Month, Soshanguve Times remembers all the women that fought for freedom and wanted to see women prosper in South Africa.
Liliian Ngoyi
Ngoyi was born in Pretoria, she was a public speaker. She led the 1956 revolutionary march to the Union buildings in Pretoria, the march was against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act. . She was the Federation of South African Women’s president (FEDSAW) and she was the first woman to be elected in the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC)
Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu
Sisulu was a political activist and nurse, she was also referred to as the Mother of the nation. In 1954, Albertina got her midwife qualification and she was employed by the City Health of Johannesburg as a midwife, she used her job to get people to vote for ANC. She also led the march to the Union Buildings. She fought alongside her husband Walter Sisulu.
Bertha Ngxowa
Born in Germiston, she joined the ANC Youth League during the Bantu education era to strengthen her involvement in politics, but she left the youth league because she wanted to focus on issues that women face. She is the founder of FEDSAW. Ngxowa started a women’s social club. She became a member of parliament and served two terms.
Dorothy Nyembe
Nyembe was elected as Vice-President of the Durban ANC Women’s League. She participated in the organisation of anti-government demonstrations by rural women. Dorothy was awarded the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) People’s Friendship Award and in 1992 she got the Chief Albert Luthuli prize for her commitment to the struggle.
Professor Fatima Meer
She alongside Bertha Ngxowa founded FEDSAW. She founded a school for African learners, it was called Phambili High School, but before that she arranged for African students to get scholarships to study medicine in India. She then founded Khanya Women’s Skills Training Centre in 1996, she trained 150 African women to do pattern-cutting and sewing, adult literacy and business management every year.
Ruth Mompati
She was Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo’s typist while they had a law firm. She later joined the ANC and was elected to the NEC the ANC Women’s League. She went into exile in 1962, there she went under military training and was in charge of the women’s section of the ANC in Tanzania. In 1992 she went to address the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid in New York on a subject about women. The day was then declared International Day of Solidarity with women in South Africa.
“We don’t want men who wear skirts under their trousers. If they don’t want to act, let us women exchange garments with them.” Lillian Ngoyi.
