Who is president of ANC Women’s League?

Florence Matomela is at the forefront. The Women’s League was then asked by the Congress Alliance to assist in organizing the 1955 Congress of the People, where the Freedom Charter was to be adopted. This gave the women an opportunity to lobby for the incorporation of their demands into the charter. In 1955, the issue of passes came forth again as the government announced that it would start issuing reference books in January 1956. A demonstration was held on the 27th of October 1955 and was attended by 2 000 women. On the 9th of August 1956, the women of the league confronted Prime Minister J.G. Strydom, under the auspices of the Federation of South African Women with a petition against passing laws.

The banning of the ANC in 1960 disrupted the activities of the Women’s League as central leaders were forced to go underground. Many women leaders fled into exile and those that were left behind could not organize anything as they were banned and restricted. Regional organizers became important as they managed resistance at the ground level. Regional