UPhyllis Naidoo wazalelwa e-Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal ngo-1928, kusukela esemncane wayesebenza kwi-Non-European Unity Movement (NEUM). Njengomfundi, kamuva waba nguthisha e-Natal University (i-Non-European section), wahlela iKomidi Lamalungelo Abantu elasiza ekuqongeleleni izimali zabashushisi be-Treason Trialists nemindeni yabo.
UNaidoo wayeyilungu le-Natal Indian Congress (NIC) neSouth African Communist Party (SACP) kanti nomyeni wakhe, uMD Naidoo noGovan Mbeki, benza umsebenzi wokuxhasa ngomshoshaphansi abaphathi be-ANC. Ngesikhathi seminyaka eyishumi yokuvinjelwa kwakhe, ikhaya lakhe lahlaselwa izikhathi ezingu-14. Futhi ngemuva kokubekwa ngaphansi komyalelo wokuvinjelwa nokuboshwa endlini ngoMashi 1966, waqala ukufundela ezomthetho futhi waqeqeshelwa ukuba ngummeli ngo-1973. Wabeka inqubo yakhe yezomthetho lapho incwadi yakhe yokuvinjelwa isuswa ngo-1976. -Iziboshwa zase-Robben Island ekusebenzeni kwakhe kubandakanya kwesinye isikhathi uJacob Zuma, onguMengameli we-ANC njengamanje.
Phyllis Naidoo
Ngo-23 Julayi 1977, uNaidoo waphoqeleka ukuba abalekele eLesotho, lapho aqhubeka nokusebenzela i-ANC, futhi wayebandakanyeka emsebenzini wezenhlalakahle: ukuhlinzekela izingane ezazishiye iNingizimu Afrika. UNaidoo usize amalungu e-SACP ne-ANC ukuba abaleke eNingizimu Afrika, futhi wabanikeza ukwesekwa kanye nenqwaba yentsha eyeqa imingcele ngemuva kwezidubedube zabafundi baseSoweto.
Ngesikhathi eseLesotho, uNaidoo wayenguMeluleki Oyinhloko Wezosizo Lwezomthetho kuHulumeni waseLesotho,i-Chief Legal Aid Counsel for the Lesotho Governmen. Kodwa waphoqeleka ukuba ashiye iLesotho ngo-1983, lapho iziteleka zezindiza zaseNingizimu Afrika ezazibhekise eLesotho zaqala futhi yonke imingcele yayo eyishumi nambili yavalwa. Ngo-1983 wabalekela eZimbabwe lapho aqhubeka khona nemisebenzi yakhe yezepolitiki kwi-ANC, wabhala izinkulumo zamaqabane, efundisa eMnyangweni Wezomthetho wase-University of Zimbabwe futhi wasiza abantu baseNingizimu Afrika ukuthola izixazululo zezinkinga.
Wayebambe iqhaza elikhulu ekukhankaseleni ukusetshenziswa kabi kwamandla nguhulumeni wobandlululo. UNaidoo wayekhathazeke kakhulu ngeziboshwa, zombili ezepolitiki nezobugebengu, ezazizobulawa. Ubhale incwadi ethi-Waiting to Die in Pretoria, eyayigxeka isihluku sokujeziswa ngokufa. Waphinde wakhipha incwadi ethi Le Rona Re Batho, ekhuluma nge-Maseru Massacre yango-1982.
Ngo-1990, uNaidoo wabuya eNingizimu Afrika waqhubeka nokubhala nokuqopha umlando womzabalazo njengoba awuthola ngesikhathi esezweni nasekudingisweni. Incwadi yakhe yokugcina kwaba i-Footsteps in Grey Street. Wedlula emhlabeni ngomhlaka 13 Febhuwari 2013.