Dorothy Nomzansi Nyembe OMSS (31 December 1931 – 18 December 1998) was a South African activist and politician.
Biography
Born near Dundee,
KwaZulu-Natal, Nyembe was the daughter of Leeya Basolise Nyembe, whose father was Chief Ngedee Shezi.
She attended mission schools until Standard 9. She had her only child when she was fifteen.
Nyembe spent much of her life under apartheid either under or in prison,
She was elected to the National Assembly in 1994.
Career
Nyembe was active in politics, participating or running many progressive organizations. She joined the African National Congress in 1952 and soon became an active member.
When she joined the ANC the Defiance campaign was going on. Nyembe was imprisoned in 1952 for defying unjust laws.
She led women from
Natal Province in the Defiance Campaign of 1956.
Part of the Defiance Campaign was being a leader against the removal of the Cato Manor in 1956.
In 1956 she was elected as the vice president of the Durban ANC.
She was also active in the movement to boycott beer halls.
Beer Halls, taking jobs away from many women.
In 1959 she was elected president of the Natal division of the African National Congress Women's League. When the ANC was banned in 1960, she joined Spear of the Nation.
In 1963 she led women during the Natal Women's Revolt.
Work for the African National Congress
The ANC's philosophy during the early 1950s was that of Gandhi's. A passive philosophy where members were willing to go to prison if necessary. Nyembe, while not a pacifist, joined the ANC and in 1952 was willing to break laws that imposed restrictions of political, labour and residential rights.
Nyembe's time in the defiance campaign ended when, in 1953, the British passed laws that banned protest meetings. After her election president of the Natal division in 1959 Nyembe was involved in the planning of opposition to pass laws. Pass laws would have made it required that all black citizens carry an identity card around in white areas.
After the Sharpeville massacre and the ANC and the PAC being banned under newly passed the Unlawful Organisations Act. Nyembe joined the armed wing of the ANC
uMkhonto weSizwe (MK). Under this operation she participated in sabotaging government facilities.
Natal Women's Revolt
As a leader of the Natal Women's Revolt, Nyembe was with other South African black women against the municipal system of beer halls: it was illegal to
Brewing at home.
Beer Halls took a major source of income away from women and funded the apartheid administration. This organization also sought the destruction of the Durban Corporation property. Nyembe was fighting for influx control, passes for women, and permits to seek work.
Awards
Awarded FAO Ceres Medal in 1976.
During her career she received the Order of Friendship of Peoples, from the Soviet Union, and the Chief Albert Luthuli prize, the latter in 1992.
Order for Meritorious Service in silver (2003).
