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Women first registered as students at the South African College (SAC), the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) forerunner, in 1886. Pictured are the BA Lit class of 1899 (from left) Margarete von Oppell, Hettie McGregor, Selina Gordon, May le Roux, Helen Ethel Bennett, Agnes Bissett and Madeline Russell.
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Founded by Dr Charlotte Maxeke, the Bantu Women's League, was the first women's organisation in South Africa. It was later replaced by the ANC Women's League in 1948.
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In 1932 the first black woman graduated from UCT, Anti-apartheid and civil rights leader Zainunnissa (Cissie) Gool graduated from UCT with an MA.
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The ANC National Womens League is founded in 1948 and replaced the Bantu Women's League. The ANCWL played an integral role in the anti-apartheid struggle through their commitment to passive resistance.
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Founded in 1955, the Black Sash mobilised thousands of women to act in protest of the apartheid regime.
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In 1996 Dr Mamphela Ramphele became the first black and the first woman vice-chancellor of UCT
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In 2005, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka became the first female deputy-president of South Africa,
