Victoria Mxenge

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Victoria Mxenge, (1942 - 1985) was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Trained as a nurse and midwife, she began practising law.

She became more politically active after her husband Griffiths, who had been banned earlier and detained by the National Party government, was murdered by the Apartheid government agents led by Dirk Coetzee in Umlazi township south of Durban. She had multiple stab wounds and her body was found near the soccer field in Umlazi.

A prominent member of the United Democratic Front and the Natal Organisation of Women, she was part of the defence team for the UDF and Natal Indian Congress during the Pietermaritzburg Treason Trial. She was assassinated shortly before the trial. Her funeral was attended by over 10,000 people, and letters of condolence were received from Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo amongst others. Her murderers appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Mxenge is one of four political activists honoured in Johnny Clegg's song Asimbonanga (Mandela).

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