Ms. N. Thoko Mpumlwana
"I want my children to know that our past violent society left
permanent scars and that the future is in building social cohesion in a society
still divided on racial, sexist, ethnic, and class lines”
"I want my kids to 'imagine' and work towards a non-racial and
non-sexist society. Patriarchy lives and its effect is felt by women of South
Africa every day."
Nandisile Thoko Mpumlwana is the
Deputy Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality with an educational
background in teaching from the University of South Africa and the University
of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Mpumlwana was also awarded an MA in Curriculum Development
and Teacher Education from Michigan State University in the United States.
Although Mpumlwana’s career has focused largely on teaching and promoting
education, her outstanding commitment to justice is of extraordinary importance
in her life and those whom she fights for. Her activism is mainly focused on
political justice, human rights, and the rights of women and children. She places a strong emphasis on getting South African youth to vote and be more
politically active, giving them a voice and building the young democracy
through the young population. Mpumlwana’s social action is seen through serving
on boards of the Independent Development Trust, the Foundation for Human
Rights, the Women’s Development Foundation, and the South African Women in
Dialogue.
Thoko Mpumlwana was a co-founding activist of the Black Consciousness Movement, alongside Bantu Stephen Biko. Mpumlwana was involved in innumerable forms of
activism and promotion of the Black Consciousness Movement, such as being an
editor for the Black Review; an annual publication that Biko launched in 1972
geared towards black political leaders. After Biko’s death, in October of 1977,
when Black Consciousness organizations were banned, the members of the Movement scattered so as to avoid further banishment or imprisonment. The
dispersion of location did not stop the members from continuing the the
Black Consciousness fight. Mpumlwana stayed in King William’s Town to expand
the Ginsberg Educational Trust, which later became known as the Zingisa
Educational Project.
After Biko’s death Mpumlwana and her husband Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, continued with the Black
Consciousness Movement. Together they wrote the introduction of the 2002
edition of I Write What I Like. Biko’s
influence on the South African black community would not have been possible
without the dedicated Black Consciousness activists that were by his side, and
Mpumlwana was with him all the way and continues to uphold these ideals and beliefs
today.
Co-founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, a political leader, a powerful voice fighting
for the empowerment of women, children and blacks in South Africa, Nandisile Thoko Mpumlwana was, is, and will
continue to be a critical asset to the fight for justice and equality in South Africa.
We Salute You.
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