Victoria Mxenge, (1 January 1942 - 1985) was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Trained as a nurse and midwife, she began practising law.[1]
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. He had multiple stab wounds and his 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).
In October 2005 the South African Ministry of the Environment launched the third and last Lillian Ngoyi class environmental patrol vessels named Victoria Mxenge in her honor.[1]