Hilda Bernstein, Political activist, author and artist, 91
deb...@comcast.net
Bernstein, dies at 91, survived by four children and seven
grandchildren
September 09, 2006, 19:30
Hilda Bernstein, the veteran political activist, author and artist, has
died at the age of 91. She died in Cape Town after suffering an
aneurysm. President Thabo Mbeki honoured Bernstein with the National
Order of Luthuli two years ago for her role in the liberation struggle.
A close friend, Beata Lipman, says Bernstein was a "bright and
sparkling woman."
Lipman said: "She was the only communist member of the all-white
Johannesburg City Council. She took part in all our women's activities
- the march 50 years ago, all those sorts of things. She wrote
magnificently and did some beautiful work in the art field. She was
much loved and a wonderful person."
Born in London in 1915, she was educated at State schools and had no
higher education. She relocated to South Africa in 1932 where she
worked in advertising agencies, later publishing and journalism. In
South Africa she became active in organisations associated with the
struggle for national liberation. She was a member of the South African
Labour Party League of Youth until 1940. After her stint in the Labour
Party, she became a member of the South African Communist Party.
Bernstein banned by ministerial decree
Bernstein was a founding member of the Federation of South African
Women - the first non-racial women's organisation in South Africa and a
founder of the South African Peace Council and its national secretary
until the organisation's banning. In 1946 Hilda was charged with
sedition arising out of a mineworkers' strike. In 1953 she was banned
by ministerial decree from 26 organisations and all meetings, including
bans on writing and being published.
In 1960, Hilda was detained under State of Emergency without charge
following the Sharpeville shootings. In 1964 after the Rivonia trial,
she escaped from home as police came to make an arrest and managed to
cross the frontier on foot to Botswana. While in exile, she was a
member of the External Mission, and of the Women's section of the ANC.
She was also an active member and regular speaker on behalf of ANC and
Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain.
Bernstein's late husband, Rusty, was the only Rivonia Trialist to be
acquitted of sabotage in 1964. She is survived by four children and
seven grandchildren.