Who Drafted the Charter?
The Women’s Charter was probably drafted by Ray Alexander and Hilda Watts, the co-organisers of the conference with contributions from the delegates to the conference. The official “Report on the first National Conference of Women” mentioned nearly 150 women in attendance whilst in a letter from Alexander to Watts stipulates 137 delegates. The charter was a two-and-a half page document which formed a manifesto of the ideas that came out of the inaugural conference. The charter identified the women’s movement completely within the national liberation movement.
The known delegates to the conference are listed in this table below.
- Dora Tamana – ANC WL, Retreat Women’s Vigilance Association.
- Esther Nose – Retreat Women’s Vigilance Association.
- Emma Raxone – Nyanga Women’s Vigilance Association.
- Albertina Gwenkane – Nyanga Women’s Association.
- Rosie Mpetha – Nyanga Women’s Association.
- Annie Silinga – ANCWL, Langa Women’s Vigilance Association.
- Winfred Seqwana – ANCWL, Langa Women’s Vigilance Association.
- Gladys Smith – Cape Housewives’ Leagues.
- Katie White – Guardian Christmas Club.
- Hetty McLeod – Cape Factory Workers’ Committee.
- Hilda Lotz
- Freda von Rheda – Food and Canning Workers’ Union.
- Mabel Jones- African Food and Canning Workers Union, Worcester.
- Elizabeth Mafikeng – African Food and Canning Workers Union, Paarl.
- Betty Kearus/T. Steenkamp –African Food and Canning Workers Union, Paarl.
- Ray Alexander – COD.
- Cecilia Rosier – COD.
- Cecilia A.N. Kuse – ANCWL
- Fatima Meer- SAIC
- Bertha Mkhize – ANCWL
- Henrietta Ostrich – African Women’s Association
- Martha Nqxesha- African Food Canning Workers Union
- Hetty du Preez –Garment Workers’ Union, no.2
- Lillian Ngoyi- ANCWL
- Rica Hodgson – COD
- Rahima Moosa – SAIC
- Helen Joseph – COD
- Ida Mtwana – ANCWL
- Josie Palmer – Transvaal All-Women’s Union
- Hilda Watts – COD
- Amina Cachalia – SAIC
- Sister M.F. Thompson – ANCWL
- Florence Matomela – ANCWL
Extract from: Walker C, Women and Resistance in South Africa (1982), Onyx Press Ltd, London
