Women in solitary :stories of the Female detainees in the SA Terrorism, December 1969
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Date
2019
Authors
Naidoo, Shanthini
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Abstract
In May 1969, 22 political activists, including Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
and six other women, were detained at Pretoria Central Prison under the Suppression
of Communism Act. Madikizela-Mandela, Venus Thokozile Mngoma, Martha
Dhlamini, Joyce Sikhakhane-Rankin, Shanthie Naidoo, Nondwe Mankahla and Rita
Ndzanga were held in solitary confinement and kept from their families for various
lengths of time, although they were never charged. As 2019 marks the 50th
anniversary of their detention, the stories of the remaining women have not been told
collectively or in the context of their emotional experience, which varied greatly from
that of the men. This project consists of two parts: a theoretical introduction and a
long-form journalism narrative. The narrative highlights the stories of the women
who fought in the struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa, particularly
those who were detained and tortured, in the context of the trial of May 1969, The
State versus Ndou and 21 others. Using in-depth interviews with the four women
who have survived, Joyce Sikhakhane-Rankin, Shanthie Naidoo, Nondwe Mankahla
and Rita Ndzanga, the long-form tells their stories, delves into the emotional impact
of their activism and their lives to date. The theoretical research aims to highlight the
need for the female narrative and the lack of information about the women involved
in the struggle against apartheid. The research shows how telling this story will
contribute to the history of untold and intertwined female experience.
Description
A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
the University of Witwatersrand’s Master of Arts by Coursework and Research Report
in Journalism and Media Studies Johannesburg, March 2019