Lilian Ngoyi

Nickname: 'Ma Ngoyi'

South African Anti-Apartheid Activist

Born in Pretoria

Deceased

Lillian Ngoyi was a South African anti-apartheid activist. On 9 August 1956, she led Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu, Sophia Williams-De Bruyn and another 20 000 women in the womens anti-pass march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria. This was one of the largest demonstrations staged in South African history. Ngoyi was the one who knocked on Prime Minister Strijdoms door to hand over the petitions. She was the first woman elected to the executive committee of the African National Congress, and helped launch the Federation of South African Women.