15 Facts About Bertha Mkhize

Bertha Mkhize was a South African teacher, who gained legal emancipation as a feme sole operating a business in her own right.

Bertha Mkhize was arrested twice for these activities and charged in the second incident with treason, but found not guilty of the allegations.

Nhlumba Bertha Mkhize was born on 6 June 1889 in Embo, near Umkomaas in the Colony of Natal to Mashobane Mkhize, an oxcart driver.

Bertha Mkhize was one of the first students of the all-girls school.

In 1907, Bertha Mkhize began teaching at Inanda Seminary and remained there for the next four years.

Bertha Mkhize continued with her interest in literacy, working in a children's center for twenty-five years.

Bertha Mkhize spoke out against oppressive measures used to undermine people's rights, like culling their cattle or forcing them and their owners to be plunged in pesticide under the guise of controlling typhus.

At its organization, Bertha Mkhize joined the African National Congress Women's League and became involved in women's rights issues, participating in marches in 1931 and 1936 against requirements for women to have travel passes.

Bertha Mkhize joined the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union, campaigning against curfews, low wages, and other working restrictions.

Bertha Mkhize spoke in favor of retracting the restriction, and for her defiance spent several months in prison.

Bertha Mkhize was one of the women who attended the founding conference in 1954 and was selected as one of the national vice presidents along with Florence Matomela, Lillian Ngoyi, and Gladys Smith.

Two years later, Bertha Mkhize had become President of ANCWL, which held a mass demonstration in August 1956 to show the strength of women's opposition to a new implementation of women's pass laws.

Bertha Mkhize had continued running her business in Durban, but in 1965 the Durban City Council forced the closure of all African businesses and removed their owners of the area.

Bertha Mkhize translated many texts of the faith into Zulu.

Bertha Mkhize died on 3 October 1981 in Inanda and is remembered for her pioneering role in women's rights.