In recognition of National Women’s Day (9th August), we’re highlighting a few remarkable women from the eThekwini Municipality.
Lulu Dube, the only surviving daughter of John Langalibalele Dube was born in 1931 at Ohlange. The eldest was Namagugu, followed by Sobantu, and then Lulu. The youngest sibling was Sipho; all of them are now deceased. Their mother was Angeline Dube, neè Khumalo. The house where Lulu Dube lives now was built around 1922 and is the second house of Dr John Dube. Their first home was at Ohlange, where all the children were born. Read more …
Ela Gandhi was born on 1 July 1940 in Durban as the youngest daughter of Manilal and Sushila Gandhi. Her father, who was Gandhi’s second son, returned from India to South Africa in 1917 to assist in the running of Phoenix Settlement and of the newspaper, The Indian Opinion. By 1920 he had become the editor of the paper and would eventually become its longest serving editor. He married Sushila in 1927 and a year later their first daughter Sita was born, twelve years later in 1940 Ela was born. Read more …
Sibusisiwe Violet Makhanya was a pioneer social worker, who received acclaim both locally and abroad for her innovative social welfare programmes among the community of Umbumbulu. She was born at Umbumbulu, a village to the south of Durban, on the 4 October 1894, the eldest of seven children. Her father was Nxele Jeremiah, a cousin (brother) of the then ruling Chief Mthambo Makhanya. Other children after Sibusisiwe were Qonda, Tyson, Franck Babane, Gilbert, Constance Nte and Virginia. Her mother was Nomagqoka, a Maphumulo from Umzinyathi in the Inanda district. Her mother had been one of the first students at Inanda Seminary, when it was run by the first Principal, Mrs Mary K. Edwards, an American missionary. Sibusisiwe received her primary education at Umbumbulu, her high school education at Inanda Seminary, and trained as a teacher at Adams College. Read more …