Présentation Ida - English version

In 1948, Ida Mntwana joined the Women's League of theANC, where she began to organise campaigns to raise women's awareness of the political and social issues of the day. She played a key role in boycott campaigns and demonstrations against discriminatory laws. After Madie Hall Xuma resigned as national president in 1949, Mntwana took her place. Mntwana was more radical than her predecessor, organising demonstrations, strikes and other acts of civil disobedience. She was also elected to the ANC's executive committee.

Idaa Fiyo Mntwana was born into an African family in King William's Town in the Eastern Cape. Few details are available about her childhood and formal education, but she grew up in an environment where the Xhosa community suffered the restrictions of British colonisation.She worked as a seamstress. She learned early on about the hardships imposed by racial segregation and social injustice.

Birth and youth

In particular, she took part in the Germiston march on 26 August 1952. The group consisted of 29 women: 11 Indians, one coloured woman (Susan Naude) and 17 Africans. She and the group were arrested and sentenced to fourteen days in prison in Boksburg.

In 1952, Ida became actively involved in the Campaign of No Confidence against Unjust Laws, an initiative of the ANC and the South African Indian Congress to protest oppressive legislation. During this campaign, she organised and took part in peaceful demonstrations.

Defiance campaign and demonstrations

In 1954, Mntwana became the first president of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW). She helped organise the Congress of the People and draft he Charter for Freedom.

Congress of the People

As leader of FEDSAW, Ida Mntwana worked tirelessly to mobilise women across the country to unite against apartheid policies. It was therefore no surprise that she led the march organised on 27 October 1955, which brought together 2,000 women in front of the Union Buildings in Pretoria to oppose the wearing of passes by women. She also took part in the famous march of 9August 1956.

Women take to the streets

She died during the trial on 7 March 1960, aged 57. Her coffin was carried and accompanied by dozens of women. In 2003, she was posthumously awarded the Order of Meritorious Service, ensuring the continuity of her legacy and making an even deeper mark on the history of the struggles in South Africa.

Following her participation in the Congress of the People, Ida was charged with high treason, along with 155 other people (including Nelson Mandela), and was drawn into the treason trial that lasted until 1961.

The treason trial