EKU/TEMP/0001

Nonkumbi Bertha Gxowa (Nee Mashaba) was born on the 28th November 1934. She completed her primary school atthe Thokoza Primary school and her high school education at the Germiston Public School. Her long distinguishedpolitical career started in 1952 when she joined the South African Garment Workers Union.Bertha Gxowa can only be described as a stalwart of the South African Liberation struggle. She was one of thenational organizers of the 1956 Women's March to the Union Buildings which was spearheaded by the Women'sLeague of the African National Congress (ANC). The march protested against the inhuman pass laws. She was thealternate leader to one of the South Africa's great leaders, Lillian Ngoyi .She also served jail terms for treason withthe likes of Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa.She was elected as a member of 1st democratically elected parliament in 1994. Mrs Gxowa was a member of anumber of Parliamentary Committees including Home Affairs and Health. Outside Parliament, she was thechairperson of the ANC Women's League in the Gauteng Province as well as the National Treasurer of the ANCWomen's League.She has earned herself the respect of friend and foes as a committed and passionate community leader concernedabout the plight of the marginalised and disadvantaged. Her position and the role of women in south Africa was closeto her heart. She was also a national Chairperson of the Malibongwe Women's development an organization thatfocuses on women empowerment.Religion also played an indispensable part in her life. She was an active member of the African Methodist EpiscopalChurch and made an important contribution to the to the healing and moral regeneration processes in hercommunity, Gauteng and South Africa as a whole. She did not let any opportunity go by without sharing her personalexperiences with women in the war torn societies. Her active participation in the Women Interfaith Journey for PeaceMovement involved women in South Africa, India and Sri Lanka.Bertha Gxowa's life would not be complete without mentioning the people close to her heart. She is survived by fourof her five children, 12 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren as well as 1 great great grandchild.ExtentThe grave no being: Block: Pres A, Row F, No, 68 & 69 located at the Thomas Titus Nkobi Cemetery, Elspark,Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.Declared on the 20 November 2014Unveiled by the Hon Premier: David M. MakhuraGauteng Province