Gertrude Shope was born in Johannesburg, but grew up in Zimbabwe. She was trained as a teacher and went on to teach in Natal and Soweto. When she was 29 years old she decided to join the African National Congress (ANC) and soon afterwards left teaching as part of a campaign to boycott Bantu Education. In 1966 the ANC convinced her to leave South Africa and join her husband, Mark Shope, in exile. While in exile, Gertrude and her husband travelled frequently to lobby as representatives of the ANC. In 1991 Shope was elected president of the ANC’s Women’s League, a position she held until 1993. She worked together with Albertina Sisulu in convening the ANC’s Internal Leadership Corps Task Force from 1990-1991. In 1994 Shope became a member of parliament in the Government of National Unity.
15 August 1925
Gertrude Shope, former president of the ANC Women’s League, is born
- Updated
- 14 Aug 2020
How we know this
- 01The O’Malley Gertrude Shope from The Nelson Mandela Organisation [online] Available at: www.nelsonmandela.org [Accessed on 7 August 2012]
- 02South African History Online Gertrude Shope [online] Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 7 August 2012]
Last updated · 14 Aug 2020
South African History Online. (2012, August 10). Gertrude Shope, former president of the ANC Women’s League, is born . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089664
South African History Online (2012) 'Gertrude Shope, former president of the ANC Women’s League, is born ', South African History Online, 10 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089664 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
South African History Online, Gertrude Shope, former president of the ANC Women’s League, is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089664, (accessed 12 October 2026).
"Gertrude Shope, former president of the ANC Women’s League, is born ." South African History Online, 10 Aug. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089664. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Gertrude Shope, former president of the ANC Women’s League, is born ." South African History Online. August 10, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089664.
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