Remembering Charlotte Maxeke, a pioneer of women's rights in South Africa

By Staff Reporter | Published Apr 7, 2025

On the anniversary of her birth in 1871, we celebrate Charlotte Makgomo Maxeke, the pioneering South African activist known as the 'Mother of Black Freedom. ' From performing before Queen Victoria to becoming one of the first Black South African women graduates, Maxeke's remarkable journey shaped women's rights, labour movements, and political activism in South Africa. Her legacy as founder of the Bantu Women's League (later the ANC Women's League) continues to inspire generations fighting for equality.