1905 Charlotte Maxeke, formerly a Kimberley schoolteacher, becomes the first

South African Black woman to receive a Bachelor's degree.

She also becomes the first Black female parole officer for juvenile
delinquents, and runs an employment agency for Black women.
Maxeke becomes involved in many issues affecting Blacks in her time, from
campaigning against the pass book laws to supporting trade union
movements and exploring the concept of African unity.
1908 7 After passing her exams, Cecilia Makiwane is registered as a nurse and
Janu becomes the first Black professional nurse in South Africa. She resumes
ary work at the Lovedale Hospital and serves the hospital for many years.
1913 23 Women protests led by Charlotte Maxeke take place in the Orange Free State,
Septe resisting government attempts to impose passes on women.
mber
1914 27 A petition is written and submitted by the Black and Colored women of the
Janu Orange Free State (OFS) against the carrying of passes by women.
ary
1918 The Bantu Women's League of the South African Native National Congress
(SANNC) is formed under the leadership of Charlotte Maxeke as result of the
introduction of Pass laws. A delegation is sent to Prime Minister Louis Botha
to discuss the issue of Passes for Black women.
1919 A protest is held in the Orange Free State (OFS) against the carrying of
passes by women.
1921 Nove Mary Fitzgerald is the first female City Councillor in Johannesburg.
mber
1922 The first significant action by women in the rural areas occurs in Hershel.
Boycott of stores as a result of price hikes, using passive resistance tactics
that had been used earlier in the Orange Free State.
1928 Edwin Mofutsanyana's wife and organizer of the historic 1956 women's
march, Josie Palmer, are active in campaign against residential permits.
1930 White women get the vote. This means that in effect the weight of the black
vote is decreased from 3.1% to 1.4%. The first restrictions against the
urbanization of Black women are introduced. The reason the government
gives for this is so as to decrease prostitution and illegal brewing in urban
areas.
1932 Founding member of the Federation of South African Women, Hilda Watts,
and later Bernstein joins the South African Labor Party League of Youth.
1933 Pixley Seme, president of the African National Congress (ANC), uses the
votes of women to ensure his re-election as president of the organization.
1934 Sarah Carneson joins the SACP. She teaches workers to read and write at the
SACP's night school.
1934 Esther Susanna Mentz travels to Germany to study music and acting.
1936 Dr. Abdullah Abdurrahman daughter Zainunnisa Cissie Gool founds the
National Liberation League and becomes its first president.
1937 Very strict regulations are introduced regarding the urbanization of women as
part of influx control.
1941 African National Congress (ANC) makes a resolution at a congress that the
women's section of the congress be revived.
1942 Sonia (Isaacman) Bunting joins the Communist Party.
1943 Hilda Bernstein is elected Johannesburg City Councillor – the only
Communist elected to public office.

The ANC officially admits women members.

1946 Passive resistance campaign led by Dr's Naicker and Yusuf Dadoo see a large
number of women participating and playing an active role.
1947 Mary Malahlela- Xakana becomes first female Black doctor in South Africa.
Josie Palmer is elected secretary of the non-racial Transvaal All Women's