Kuzwayo, Ellen (1914–2006)

South African teacher, social worker, activist, and writer. Name variations: Kuswayo; Mama Soweto. Pronunciation: koo-ZWY-o. Born Ellen Kate Merafe, June 29, 1914, in Thaba'Nchu District, Orange Free State, South Africa; died April 19, 2006, in Johannesburg, South Africa; only dau. of Phillip Serasengwe (civic leader in Johannesburg) and Emma Mutsi Makgothi Tsimatsima Merafe (farmer); certified by Adams College in Durban as lower primary teacher, 1933, and later as higher primary teacher (highest certification that could be attained by a black at a teacher training college), 1935; additional education at Lovedale College in Cape Province, 1936; trained in social work at Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Work in Johannesburg, 1953–55; University of Witwatersrand, Diploma in Advanced Social Work Practice, 1980, Higher Diploma in Advanced Social Work Practice, 1982; m. Dr. Ernest Moloto, 1941 (div. 1947); m. Godfrey Kuzwayo, 1950 (died 1965); children: (1st m.) Matshwene Everington (b. 1942); Bakone Justice (b. 1944); (2nd m.) Ndabezitha Godfrey (b. 1951).

Civil-rights activist who published Call Me Woman, the 1st autobiography of a black South African woman, began career teaching at Inanda Seminary in Natal (1937); taught at St. Paul's School in Thaba'Nchu (1938); appointed secretary of Youth League of African National Congress (ANC, 1946); taught at Orlando East in Soweto (1947–53); became a social worker with Johannesburg City Council (1956); worked with Southern African Association of Youth Clubs in Johannesburg (1957–62); served as general secretary of YWCA in Transvaal region, assisting Tsonga-speaking women and children who had been uprooted and resettled by South African government (1964–76); made 1st trip to NY as representative of YWCA congress (1969); saw family farm at Thaba'Nchu dispossessed under Group Areas legislation (1974); appointed to faculty of School of Social Work, University of Witswatersrand (1976); elected only founding female member of Committee of Ten (community leaders elected during martial law of 1976) and founding board member of Urban Foundation (1976); jailed for 5 months at Johannesburg Fort under Terrorism Act but released without being charged (1977–78); appointed consultant to Zamani Soweto Sisters Council (1978); appointed chair of Maggie Magaba Trust (1979); subject of documentary films, Awake From Mourning (1981) and Tsiamelo: A Place of Goodness (1985); appointed 1st president of Black Consumer Union (1984); at 80, won a seat in South African Parliament as an ANC representative for Soweto (1994); appointed to Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC, 1995). Named Woman of the Year by Johannesburg newspaper The Star (1979); was 1st black writer to win Central News Agency (CNA) Prize for literary achievement in English-language work, for Call Me Woman (1985); received Soweto Milestones Award (2004).

See also Women in World History.