Sisulu, Albertina, 1918-2011

Albertina Sisulu (October 21, 1918 - June 2, 2011) was a South African nurse, midwife, anti-apartheid and women’s rights activist, and MP. She was married to Walter Sisulu. The Sisulus were close friends with Nelson Mandela. Albertina was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) Women's League and Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) and played a leading role in the 1956 women’s anti-pass protest. The first woman to be arrested under the General Laws Amendment Act, 1963, during which time she was held in solitary confinement for ninety days. In 1985 she was charged with fifteen other United Democratic Front and trade union leaders for treason in what became known as the Pietermaritzburg Treason Trial. She served as an MP from 1994 until she retired in 1999. Sisulu was the founder of The Albertina Sisulu Foundation which works to improve the lives of small children and old people.