Mary MOODLEY, who had been under continuous banning orders in South Africa since 1963, died in Benoni on 22 October, more than three years before her current ban is due to expire.
A former leading figure in the Congress Movement (the CPC) and the South African Women's Federation, and a former SACTU member, Mary Moodley was prevented from continuing her political activities and was severely restricted socially for 16 years by her banning orders. She was detained twice in the early 1960s and was given a fine and a suspended sentence in 1964 for helping political fugitives flee the country. (see FOCUS 17 p.7) On 28 October, about 750 people of all races attended her funeral service in Actonville, Benoni. Her coffin was draped in ANC colours, and the mourners wore lapel ribbons in ANC colours. Speakers included Tom Manthata from the Soweto Committee of Ten, Enoch Duma of Wasa, George Wauchope of Azapo, and her old colleague from the Women's Federation, Helen Joseph. (RDM 29.10.79)
