ANC Women's League

INTRODUCTION

The history of the African National Congress Women's League (ANC Women's League) is not adequately covered both in history books and in the history of our own organisation. This booklet, released to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of formal struggle, attempts to fill that gap. More research is needed to put the role of women in our struggle in the place it deserves.

The ANC Women's League traces its roots to the Bantu Women's League which was led by the late Charlotte Maxeke in 1918.

The ANC constitution of 1919 did not grant full membership to women, they could only be auxiliary members without voting rights. This situation did not change until the 1943 Conference where a resolution was passed to grant women full membership status in the ANC and to set up the ANC Women's League.

The late Madie Hall-Xuma was appointed its first President but the ANC Women's League did not hold a conference until 1948 where the Late Ida Mtwana was elected as its President.

FORMATION OF TO ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE

The African National Congress was formed in 1912.

The introduction of passes for black people generally, and Black women in particular was topical and a political issue facing the people . In March 1912 a petition of the native and coloured women in Orange Free State Province was sent to Minister Louis Botha. When no positive response was received, a delegation of 6 (six) women from Bloemfontein was sent to meet with the then Minister of Native affairs - Henry Burton. A petition bearing 5 000 signatures was collected from OFS women appealing to Parliament to repeal the pass laws for women and presented to Government but nothing happened.

In May 1913 the women could take it no more. Enough was enough. The struggle intensified and they embarked on vigorous passive resistance campaigns. On the 28 and 29 May 1913 they took a resolution never to carry passes. They said "We are done with pleading we now demand!"

More women were arrested in Jagersfontein, Winburg and Bloemfontein. They fought with Police sang and shouted slogans during their marches and made the quiet towns rowdy. Sol Plaatjie in Tsala ea Batho commented on their strength and courage when he went to see them in Kroonstad Prison. "They don't care, even if they die in jail. They swear they will cure that madness; they will stop their protest only when the law prevents policemen from stopping and demanding passes from other men's wives".

In 1914 Government relaxed Women's Pass Laws and their resistance ended in 1914.

BANTU WOMEN'S LEAGUE

In 1918 Government threatened to re-introduce Pass Laws for women in other areas as well. The Bantu Women's League was formed during this time under the leadership of Charlotte Maxeke. Women were auxiliary members of the ANC during this period.

WHO IS CHARLOTTE MAXEKE

Charlotte Maxeke was born in Ramokgopa, Pietersburg in the then Northern Transvaal (now known as Northern Province). She was born Charlotte Manye in April 1874.

Because of her good voice she was discovered by a Mr. Bam who immediately made arrangements for her to join his choir which toured Europe and the USA. With the help of Bishop Henry Turner she came into contact with African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) Bishop, Derrick who assisted her to enter Wilberforce University and Graduated with a B.Sc. Degree.

In 1902 she came back to the country and got married to Rev. Macdonald M. Maxeke. They did a lot of Missionary work in Pietersburg where they built a church. The ruins of the work they did are still visible.

Charlotte became the first South African woman Graduate. She was the founder of the National Council of African Women in l 937. She used to be seen in courts of Boksburg and Benoni where she appeared before the magistrates on behalf of youths who had committed various crimes.

She died in October 1939 and was buried in Kliptown.

During this time First World War broke, but the idea that women needed to organise themselves to deal with particular problems has taken root. The actual organisation of women within the ANC was at an early stage, sketchy and hesitant. The ANC itself underwent significant changes in its programme. These years were a preparing ground for the decade of mass political action that followed in the 1950's, under the leadership of Dr. A.B. Xuma. The ANC overhauled its structure and laid the basis for a mass Political Party.

At its congress in 1941, the ANC passed the following resolution: "That this conference recommends to the parent body the necessity of reviving the Women's Section of the congress. Further that women be accorded the same status as men in the classification of membership. That the following be done to attract women:

1. To make the programme of the congress as attractive as possible to the women; and
2. A careful choice of leadership.

But this resolution was only passed at the 1943 ANC conference.

Women were granted full membership status in the ANC and  ANC Women's League was set up. Madie Hall-Xuma became its President.

WHO IS MADIE HALL-XUMA

Madie Hall was an American  Graduate from Georgia. While Dr. Xuma, now ANC President, was on a visit in USA from 1937-38 they met and got married.

She was criticised for being largely apolitical, but she was more advanced in views on the question of women's place in society. She criticised men who kept their wives at home all the time.

THE ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE AT THIS TIME

The role of the ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE was spelled out more fully as follows:-

1. To arouse the interest of African women in the struggle for freedom and equality and assist the widespread organisation of women;
2. To take up special problems and issues affecting women; and
3. To carry on propaganda against apartheid and discriminatory laws among African women. The ANC Women's League is and was not an independent body, but a subsection of the ANC proper: "It is under the Political direction and control of the congress, and it follows the Policy and Programmes of the congress." In structure too, the ANC Women's League followed that of the parent body. It operated on 3 levels, National, Provincial and Branch, each of which was run by an elected committee.

It took several years for this organisation of ours to get oft the ground. Provincial congress were not set up until the late 1940s and the Women's League did not get going as a "Real Force" until then.

By the late l 940s the ANC Women's League was beginning to stir, motivated by Congress of Youth League (CYL) which has succeeded in turning the ANC in a more radical direction. Madie Hall-Xuma stepped down from Presidency of the ANC Women's League, Ida Mtwana - Youth Leaguer, moving spirit among women, orator and heckler took over her position in 1948.

The election of Ida Mtwana invited a new era in the history of the organisation. The structure of the ANC Women's League was overhauled and Provincial Leagues on the pattern of the parent body were established. This put the ANC Women's League in touch with township women throughout the country and opened the way for a new and more dynamic leadership, with a broader representation of working class women to come to the fore.

When the proposed amendments to the urban areas act were leaked to the press in 1950, they galvanized women once more. The amendments envisaged a liar tighter control over the movement of African women, a control which could be enforced by some form of pass system for women. The news was met by storm of protest amongst women and greatly stimulating the activity of the ANC Women's League. This outburst of protest politicised many African women to the general benefit of the League. It also gave the ANC Women's League a clearer focus for activity. "Our fight is on," declared Bertha Mkize, Provincial Secretary of the ANC Women's League in April 1950.

ANTI-PASS CAMPAIGN 1950-1953

For several weeks the demonstrations, deputation's and meetings organised in protest were front page news in The Guardian: "We will not carry any Passes: African women indignant","African women up in arms, mounting opposition to Passes for women", "Campaign against Passes for women gathers force." The protest spanned the country.

Durban was a particularly strong center of protest. A key figure in these protests was Bertha Mkhize.

In Cape Town Dora Tamana and Annie Silinga were key in protests that took place in Langa, Elsies River and Kensington. In Eastern Cape Florence Matomela played a key role. Because of these protests Government shelved the idea of Passes for women and again resurfaced in 1952. Protests again took place Nationally Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Outdtshoorn, Stellenbosch, Ixopo, Umzinto and Cato Manor. Because the issue was not affecting ANC Women's League only. The ANC Women's League mooted the idea of forming Federation of South African Women (FSAW) and to give this issue of Passes a National Dimension.

DEFIANCE CAMPAIGN AND THE ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE

Several ANC Women's League members played a leading role in the 1952 Defiance Campaign. in the Eastern Cape 1 067 out of 2 529 defiers were women. Hundreds of women were arrested.

Florence Matomela, President of ANC Women's League in Eastern Cape played a key role. She was one of those who launched the campaign Nationally on 26 June 1952. Lillian Ngoyi entered politics through this campaign.

By the beginning of 1953 the congress alliance was established and various strands - opposition to influx control, the defiance campaign, a more activist-orientated National Liberation Movement and a stronger ANC Women's League - were all fused together at a women's meeting in Port Elizabeth from which the FEDSAW grew. The meeting was attended by the likes of Francis Baard, Florence Matomela, Ray Alexander and local women from Eastern Cape areas. Both the ANC and Labour Movement were strong in this area.

FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN

Ray Alexander became the key person in taking further discussions of the Port Elizabeth meeting. In Cape Town Gladys Smith, Katie White, Dora Tamana, Annie Silinga and Mrs. Thaele became the planning committee under the chairperson ship of Ray Alexander. Key organisers of the Federation of South African Women conference in Johannesburg were Hilda Watts, Ida Mtwana, Josie Palmer, Helen Joseph, M. Cachalia, Betty Du Toit, Lucy Mvubelo, Hetty Du Preez. In Durban Fatima Meer, Fatima Seedat, Henrietta Ostrich and Bertha Mkize became the key people in organising the conference.

When 'Ray' was nominated to stand in a by election for Native representative in the Cape Western Division in January 1954 she used her extensive election campaign to organise for the conference. Her election tours took her to East London, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Beaufort West, and De Aar. ( Ray won the election but was prevented form taking her seat).

Walter Sisulu was the main link between the conference organisers and the ANC. He was a leading member of the ANC executive, who saw that a National Women's Organisation could play an important role in the Liberation Struggle. The conference took place on 17 April 1954 in the Trades Hall, Johannesburg. Catering was done by men to give women delegation more time to debate Political issues. The opening speech was delivered by the ANC Women's League President, Ida Mtwana. She said, "Gone are the days when the place of women was in the kitchen and looking after the children. Today, they are marching side by side with Men in the road to freedom."

The executive of the new organisation was:

Ray and Hettie were later banned.

The congress adopted a "Women's Charter and set up aims of the new organisation. The Headquarters were in Cape Town. The Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) has been formed.

Dora Tamana took over the position of Secretary and Cecilia Rosier took over as Treasurer. However Dora and Lillian attended the 1955 WIDF conference in Switzerland that toured East Germany, China, USSR and England leaving (FEDSAW) without a Secretary. In 1955 Dora was banned.

FEDSAW was not granted full official representation on the National Consultative Committee (NCC) of the Congress Alliance, which was the highest policymaking body. However, though Helen Joseph who already was a member of the NCC representing Congress of Democrats, LOD, FEDSAWs views were communicated.

ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE AND THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE

The ANC Women's League and FEDSAW were asked by the NCC to assist with the 1955 Congress of the People (COP), particularly on accommodation.

In mobilising for the congress, FEDSAW urged its regions to hold house meetings and local conferences at which the idea could be popularised' women's delegates elected and the demands of women for incorporation within the proposed "Freedom Charter" formulated. One of these meetings took place in Johannesburg on 29 May 1955 where Josie Polmer was in the chair.

In September 1955 the potent issue of passes burst to the fore again with the announcement that government intended to start issuing women with reference books from January 1956. Demonstrations flared up again and Transvaal women planned a demonstration to Pretoria.

A demonstration, led by Lillian Ngoyi, Bertha Mashaba and Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie Williams on 27 October 1955, was attended by + 2 000 women and was a resounding success. This was the first protest organised by FEDSAW and attended by women of all races.

In December 1955 at the ANC National Conference, Lillian Ngoyi was elected to the National Executive. It was the first time a women had been elected to such a high position. At the ANC Women's League National Conference in November 1955, Lillian Ngoyi, declared confidently: "We have decided."

Demonstrations became the order of the day throughout the country and this prompted leadership of FEDSAW and the ANC Women's League to organise a national protest in Pretoria in 1956. Bertha Mashaba and Helen Joseph were given the task of organising meetings throughout the country to inform and prepare women about August 9 Pretoria march.

WHO IS LILLIAN NGOYI?

Lillian Ngoyi was born in 1911 in Pretoria of Bapedi parents, Matabane. The family later moved to Eastern Transvaal. She was sent to Kilnerton Training Institute while she was still in standard 2. She reached first year of teachers course but her father could not afford the fees, she had to quit. She went to City Deep mine hospital to train as a nurse. She married Mr. Ngoyi but after a few years Mr. Ngoyi died.

Her hectic political career started in 1952, during the defiance campaign. She left a critical sick daughter in hospital to join a batch that went to defy at the general post office. She told enquiring officers and the police that she was writing a telegram to some Cabinet Ministers. The Defiers were acquitted and Lillian began to organise Orlando women for congress. She was also treasurer of South African Non-European Council of Trade Unions in 1954,and also member of Garment Workers Union for the Reef.

Her weakness was being highly emotional. Her strength lied in the fact that she admitted it and was always prepared to be disciplined and to submit to cold logic. She was known for her comment, "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."

Referring to Bantu Education she used to say," We women are like Hens that lay eggs for somebody to take away. That's the effect of Bantu Education."

She was among the leadership that was charged for Treason Trial from 1956-1960. When the organisations were banned, she was restricted and banned. She died in 1980 still banned but she did not leave the country.

YEARS AFTER THE BANNING

Many women leadership fled into exile and those that were left behind could not organise anything as they were banned and restricted. Those women in exile organised themselves into the ANC Women's Section. The head of the Women's Section was Gertrude Shope. A lot of work in the area of International Solidarity was done by this group. It became a member of many International Women's Organisations, such as PAWO and WIDF, whose membership the ANC Women's League still enjoys today.

ORGANISATION OF WOMEN INSIDE THE COUNTRY AFTER THE BANNING

In the Transvaal the first workshop was held by women in October 1982 at St. Peters Conference centre. The workshop was organised by Sister Bernard Ncube, Greta Ncapayi, Susan Shabangu and Baby Tyawa. AZASO women's group, church women and various women's organisations were invited to the workshop.

The resolution taken at this workshop by all women was to go out and organise women's structures all over the Transvaal. This culminated in the launch of Federation of Transvaal Women (Fedtraw) in 1984, where Cde Ngeleza was elected chair and Jessie Duarte secretary, Albertina Sisulu, the then President of the UDF, and Sister Bernard Ncube were elected President of FEDTRAW.

At the same time various women's organisations were launched in various regions in the country. In the Eastern Cape, PEWO was led by Ivy Gcina who was elected President and Noble Thabatha who was its secretary. Natal Organisation of Women (NOW) in Natal was also launched and Pumzile Mlambo was its first chairperson. Nozizwe Madlala was the next chairperson of NOW and Hashila Narsee's secretary. There was also the Natal Midlands Women's Organisation with Nana Mnandi as chair and Lulu Gwala as secretary.

In the Western Cape there were two women's organisations, United Women's Organisation (UWO) chaired by Mildred Lesia with Zoe Kota as secretary, and the Women's Front with Nelly Jibiliza as chair and Mampe Ramotsamani as secretary. The two organisations united and formed the United Women's Congress (UWCO), which had two co-chairs, Mildred Holo and NomaIndia Mfeketo; and two co-secretaries Mampe Ramotsamani and Cde. Lynn Brown. In the Border there was the Congress of Border Women l (COBOW) led by Nokwakha Metele as chair. In the Eastern Transvaal, Eastern Transvaal Women's Union was launched led by Elizabeth Thela as chair and Ntombi Shope as secretary. There was VUWO in the Transkei which was launched in the late 1980's after the unbanning of the organisations, and its chair was Mandisa Marasha and its secretary was Lindiwe Msengana.

In the late 1980's an interim structure consisting of representatives of the women's organisations from the regions was set up, to prepare for the launch of a national women's organisation.

When the ANC was unbanned the structure was integrated into the Task Force which then planned for the launch of the ANC Women's League.

This Task Force was established at a workshop convened by the ANC Women's Section in Lusaka in May 1990, where all progressive women's organisations mentioned above were represented.

YEARS AFTER THE UNBANNING

The Task Team was composed of l 0 women from the ANC Women's Section and 10 from activists inside the country. (See appendix for members of the Task Team). The hard work they did led to the official launch of the ANC Women's League in August 1990 in Durban.

The following year, in April 1991, the first National Conference of the ANC Women's League inside the country took place in Kimberly. The mood, jubilation, excitement in that conference is beyond words. Friends, comrades that thought will never see each other again met, cried for each other and embraced. The first National Executive was elected after the adoption of the constitution.

Gertrude Shope who was Head of the ANC Women's Section was elected as President, Albertina Sisulu Deputy President and Baleka Kgotsisile Secretary General. The conference also agreed that the National Conference will take place every 3 years.

The second conference of the ANC Women's League took place in Durban in December 1993. Nomzamo Winnie Mandela was elected President, Thandi Modise Deputy President and Nosiviwe Mapisa as the Secretary General.

The third National Conference took place in Rustenburg in April 1997. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was elected President and Thandi Modise Deputy President for the second term and Bathabile Dlamini as the Secretary General.

MAJOR VICTORIES OF THE ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE

No one within the ANC and in South Africa at large can deny that the ANC Women's League is indeed a political force to be recognised.

Soon after the unbanning of the ANC Women's League towards the end of 1990, the President of the ANC Women's League, Gertrude Shope convened a meeting of all national women's organisations where the ANC Women's League lobbied all the women's organisations to set up a coalition. The task of this coalition would be to do research, co-ordinate, and draw up a women's charter based on the priorities and concerns of women from all walks of life throughout the country. Cde. Frene Ginwala was elected chair, Thoko Msane as secretary.

The National Women's Coalition was launched early in 1991, and started working on the Women's Charter immediately. The charter was completed in 1994 and was handed over to the President in Parliament. The concerns of women enshrined in the women's charter were incorporated in the new constitution of the country and in the Bill of Rights.

As a result, of this initiative by women, South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world today.

CODESA

During the CODESA talks, the ANC Women's League spearheaded a major campaign by mobilising women and organising a huge demonstration at the world Trade Centre, demanding that all political parties in CODESA have women representatives. If the party could not find a woman representative, then her seat had to remain vacant, the women demanded. The campaign was supported by the ANC and as a result all the parties were forced to send women representatives to the negotiations.

PARLIAMENT

The continuous struggle by the ANC Women's League against all forms of discrimination and gender imbalance subsequently led to the ANC resolution that one third of its representatives in Parliament be women, which had a far reaching effect in transforming the newly-elected democratic Parliament of South Africa. Today South Africa is seventh world wide in terms of representation of women in the legislature. We, however, need to improve the representation of women particularly at local government level, in the civil service and in the private sector.

THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S MARCH

In l 996, the ANC Women's League organised the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the 1956 women's march to the Union Buildings.

The day started with a march from Sammy Marks Square in Pretoria at 09h00am, led by the President of the ANC Women's League Winnie Mandela, Deputy President of the ANC Thabo Mbeki, and the leadership of the ANC Women's League.

The march culminated with a rally at the Union Buildings where over 20 000 women had gathered from all over the country. The Anniversary was attended by women from various organisations including the NWC, church women and NGO's. The President of the ANC, President Nelson Mandela and the President of the ANC Women's League, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela addressed the women at the Union Buildings.

Indeed, this was one of the most successful events organised by the ANC Women's League after the unbanning of our organisations. This was indeed a historic and memorable day, truly reminiscent of the 20 000 women's march of August 9. 1956.

Malibongwe!

ANC Women's league Task Team, appointed after the unbanning of the ANC in 1990