What contribution did Lillian Ngoyi make to history?

Answer 1

Born in 1911 in Pretoria, Lilian Masediba Ngoyi (24 September 1911-13 March 1980), grew up in a poverty-stricken family. "Ma-Ngoyi", was a South African anti-apartheid activist. She lived in Orlando, Soweto. She trained to become a nurse but had to end her studies when her father died. She married John Ngoyi, but later separated.

Ngoyi worked as a domestic servant for three months in 1935, a job which she despised. She became a nurse soon after.

Ngoyi found work as a machinist at a clothing factory. There she joined the Garment Workers' Union, later became one of the leading figures, and this marked the beginning of her political activism.

In 1953, Lillian became the President of the ANC Women's League and was the first women to sit in the NEC-the highest decision making body of the ANC.

It was Lilian who led the historic march of twenty-thousand women to the union building, to protest against pass laws for women. The significance of this march led to us celebrating our own National Women's day on August 9th.

Holding thousands of petitions in one hand, Ngoyi was the one who knocked on Prime Minister's door to hand over the petitions.

Lilian passed-away and never saw the free SA she dreamed of, the release of Mandela and never saw SA having the freedoms of an equal society. She did not see our progressive constitution and policies that see women as 50%, but for this life we enjoy today, we owe much to Lilian Ngoyi.