Pixie Benjamin

Pixie Benjamin was a strong anti-apartheid political activist and prisoner banned from South Africa during Apartheid. She endured harsh punishment under censorship and racist laws. Her political involvement already occurred in England, where she and her husband allowed African National Congress (ANC) activists to stay while they were rounding up political supporters. [1] Upon her return to South Africa in 1956 she became a member of the Communist Party and became involved in the Federation of South African Women(FSAW) since she was one of the organizers of 1956 Women’s March to the Union Building.[2] Due to censorship laws implemented in South Africa during the 1950’s and 1960’s Benjamin was charged with possessing and distributing illegal literature.[3] Under the Suppression of the Communism Act, she was arrested in 1962 for painting slogans opposing the banning of the ANC.[4] In 1963 she was also sentenced to six months for owning a copy of Fighting Talk, a magazine that strove to publish black writers.[5] In 1964 she was once again detained for five months.[6] Finally, in 1967 under Act No. 4 of 1950 she was banned from South Africa for her political activities.[7] Till her death in 1976 Pixie Benjamin remained a true political activist.

End notes:

[1]Author Unknown, “60 Iconic Women – The People behind the 1956 Women’s March to Pretoria (41 – 50)”, Mail and Guardian, (Accessed 5 February 2020), https://mg.co.za/article/2016-08-25-60-iconic-women-the-people-behind-the-1956-womens-march-to-pretoria-41-50/ ↵

[2]Author Unknown, “60 Iconic Women – The People behind the 1956 Women’s March to Pretoria (41 – 50)”, Mail and Guardian, (Accessed 5 February 2020), https://mg.co.za/article/2016-08-25-60-iconic-women-the-people-behind-the-1956-womens-march-to-pretoria-41-50/ ↵

[3]Author Unknown, “60 Iconic Women – The People behind the 1956 Women’s March to Pretoria (41 – 50)”, Mail and Guardian, (Accessed 5 February 2020), https://mg.co.za/article/2016-08-25-60-iconic-women-the-people-behind-the-1956-womens-march-to-pretoria-41-50/ ↵

[4]Author Unknown, “60 Iconic Women – The People behind the 1956 Women’s March to Pretoria (41 – 50)”, Mail and Guardian, (Accessed 5 February 2020), https://mg.co.za/article/2016-08-25-60-iconic-women-the-people-behind-the-1956-womens-march-to-pretoria-41-50/ ↵

[5]Merret, C. A. Culture of Censorship: Secrecy and Intellectual Repression in South Africa, 65 ↵

[6]Author Unknown, “60 Iconic Women – The People behind the 1956 Women’s March to Pretoria (41 – 50)”, Mail and Guardian, (Accessed 5 February 2020), https://mg.co.za/article/2016-08-25-60-iconic-women-the-people-behind-the-1956-womens-march-to-pretoria-41-50/ ↵

[7]Author Unknown, “List of people banned under Apartheid”, South African History Online, (Accessed 5 February 2020), https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/list-people-banned-under-apartheid ↵

Body

Pixie Benjamin was a strong anti-apartheid political activist and prisoner banned from South Africa during Apartheid. She endured harsh punishment under censorship and racist laws. Her political involvement already occurred in England, where she and her husband allowed African National Congress (ANC) activists to stay while they were rounding up political supporters. [1] Upon her return to South Africa in 1956 she became a member of the Communist Party and became involved in the Federation of South African Women(FSAW) since she was one of the organizers of 1956 Women’s March to the Union Building.[2] Due to censorship laws implemented in South Africa during the 1950’s and 1960’s Benjamin was charged with possessing and distributing illegal literature.[3] Under the Suppression of the Communism Act, she was arrested in 1962 for painting slogans opposing the banning of the ANC.[4] In 1963 she was also sentenced to six months for owning a copy of Fighting Talk, a magazine that strove to publish black writers.[5] In 1964 she was once again detained for five months.[6] Finally, in 1967 under Act No. 4 of 1950 she was banned from South Africa for her political activities.[7] Till her death in 1976 Pixie Benjamin remained a true political activist.