29 Facts About Nokukhanya Bhengu

Nokukhanya Bhengu was a South African teacher, farmer, women's leader and anti-apartheid activist.

Nokukhanya Bhengu was married to Albert Luthuli, who was president of the African National Congress between 1952 and 1967.

Nokukhanya Bhengu's parents were Maphitha Bhengu, son of Ndlokolo Bhengu, and his wife Nozincwadi Ngidi from Mzinyathi, making Bhengu a member of the royal family of the Ngcolosi.

Nokukhanya Bhengu's family were amakholwa and she had five older siblings.

Nokukhanya Bhengu began her education at the Ohlange Institute, Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, then studied at the Inanda Seminary School, an American Board Mission school for girls.

When educator and social worker Sibusiswe Makhanya left her teaching position at Adams College in 1923, the administration invited Nokukhanya Bhengu to replace her.

Whilst teaching, Nokukhanya Bhengu worked at the Adams Hostel for Girls.

In 1925, Nokukhanya Bhengu met Albert John Luthuli, then a fellow teacher at Adams College, who taught Zulu history, Zulu music and literature.

On 19 January 1927, after discussions between their families, they married and Nokukhanya Bhengu moved to live with his family in Groutville.

Nokukhanya Bhengu had to leave her job after her marriage as Adams College did not allow married women to teach.

Nokukhanya Bhengu supplemented this income by growing and selling vegetables, sugar cane and fruit.

In 1933, Nokukhanya Bhengu's husband was asked to succeed his uncle, Martin Luthuli, as chief of the Umvoti River Reserve.

Nokukhanya Bhengu was elected president general of the ANC in 1952, supported by the ANC Youth League, and with Nelson Mandela elected as his deputy.

Nokukhanya Bhengu exchanged letters with equal rights activists across the globe, such as the American philanthropist Mary Louise Hooper, who was her friend and correspondent for decades.

In 1953, Nokukhanya Bhengu's husband was banned for a year by the government, prohibiting him from attending any political or public gatherings and from entering any major South African cities.

Nokukhanya Bhengu served as his representative during this period, couriered messages from him to other banned ANC members, and managed local and international knowledge of his legal status.

Nokukhanya Bhengu campaigned in her own right and members of her local ANC Lower Tugela Branch elected her as their delegate to the Forty-Third Annual Conference of the ANC, held in Bloemfontein during December 1955.

In 1960, Nokukhanya Bhengu joined politician and activist Mewa Ramgobin in participating in a five-day fast, in the Gandhian tradition, in protest of the Sharpeville massacre and subsequent banning of anti-apartheid organisations by the state, including the ANC.

In 1961, Nokukhanya Bhengu's husband was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nokukhanya Bhengu would spend time there every year looking after the crops, property and guests.

Nokukhanya Bhengu's husband died in 1967, after being struck by a goods train.

Nokukhanya Bhengu organised the archiving of his papers, performed the official unveiling of his tombstone and supported the establishment of Luthuli Memorial Foundation, serving as one of the trustees with Zami Conco, Mary Louise Hooper and Massabalala Yengwa.

Nokukhanya Bhengu remained active in campaigning and civic life, and in 1971 she opened the October convention of the revived Natal Indian Congress, writing later in the 1970s in support of the Congress which was published in their newsletter.

Nokukhanya Bhengu was awarded an Organisation of African Unity award in 1974, and attended numerous international events, such as the Soweto Day 1977 in London and the United Church Board for World Ministries in America, as a special guest.

Nokukhanya Bhengu objected to the proposed removal and resettlement of the Groutville community.

Nokukhanya Bhengu was part of the welcome when Nelson Mandela was released from jail.

Nokukhanya Bhengu died in December 1996, days after the new democratic constitution of South Africa was signed into law.

Nokukhanya Bhengu was buried at the Congregational Church in Groutville beside her husband.

Nokukhanya Bhengu was the subject in a 1989 praise poem Praise to Our Mothers by Gcina Mhlophe, and has been included in poems by Thoko Remigia Makhanya and Sue Williams.