Lilian Ngoyi

Lillian Masediba Ngoyi "Ma Ngoyi", (1911 - March 13th, 1980), was a South African anti-apartheid activist. She was the first woman elected to the executive committee of the African National Congress, and helped launch the Federation of South African Women.

Related Topics:
1911 - March 13th - 1980 - South African - African National Congress - Federation of South African Women

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Ngoyi joined the ANC Women's League in 1952; she was at that stage a widow with two children and an elderly mother to support, and worked as a seamstress. A year later she was elected as President of the Women's League. In 1956 Ngoyi led a march of 20 000 women to Pretoria in protest against the apartheid pass laws. Ngoyi was not an intellectual, rather she was known as a strong orator and a fiery inspiration to many of her colleagues in the ANC. She was arrested in 1956, spent 71 days in solitary confinement, and was for a period of 11 years placed under severe bans and restrictions that often confined to her home in Orlando, Soweto. A community health centre in Soweto is named in her honour.

Related Topics:
1952 - 1956 - Pretoria - Apartheid - Pass laws - Orlando, Soweto

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