Norma Kitson

Born: 18 August 1933
Died: 12 June 2002
Updated: 21 Jul 2026

Summary

Member of Congress of Democrats and British Communist Party, member of the technical unit of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and founder of the City of London Anti-Apartheid Group.

Norma Kitson (nee Cranko) was born to Jewish parents in 1933 in Berea, Durban. She was one of four children, and had an elder sister Joan and brother Ronnie and a younger brother, Mark. Her father was a chemist by training and was the president of the Point Yacht Club, as Jews were banned from the Royal Natal Yacht club. Her mother, Millie, came from a wealthy Polish family.

How we know this

01Barron, C. (2002) “Norma Kitson: The Activist who started the anti-apartheid demonstration in Trafalgar Square” in The Sunday Times
02Kitson, N. (1987) Where Sixpence Lives. London: The Hogarth Press (including photo)
03Trewhela, P. (2002) “Norma Kitson: Jewish Anti-Apartheid Campaigner” in The Independent Obituaries, 14 June 2002 [online] Available at: www.independent.co.uk [Accessed 14 July 2009] from

Last updated · 21 Jul 2026

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, February 17). Norma Kitson. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/B-0008265

South African History Online (2011) 'Norma Kitson', South African History Online, 17 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/B-0008265 (Accessed: 22 July 2026).

South African History Online, Norma Kitson [website], https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/B-0008265, (accessed 22 July 2026).

"Norma Kitson." South African History Online, 17 Feb. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/B-0008265. Accessed 22 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Norma Kitson." South African History Online. February 17, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/B-0008265.