Crowds, protest politics and women's struggles: a case study of women's demonstrations in Pietermaritzburg, August 1959

Abstract

The late 1950s witnessed an intensification of resistance to apartheid, which took a variety of forms. In 1959 there were mass demonstrations by African women in Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). These incidents were a reflection of similar events that were taking place in other parts of South Africa. This paper explores a specific event when women demonstrated in Pietermaritzburg against a wide range of issues such as the beerhalls, poverty in both urban and rural areas, influx control and unemployment. Furthermore, the demonstrations seem to have been part of the broader struggle against apartheid rather than a reaction to local issues. This militant action by women surprised the local authorities in Pietermaritzburg who had the view that local African women were satisfied with their conditions and not interested in confronting the authorities as was the case in other areas.

To cite this article: Mkhize, S. 1999. Crowds, protest politics and women's struggles: a case study of women's demonstrations in Pietermaritzburg, August 1959. Natal Museum Journal of Humanities 11: 63-84.