Jumartha Majola
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15 December 1932
Jumartha Majola | |
|---|---|
.png) Majola from a 1988 issue of Guiding magazine | |
| Born | Milase Jumartha Moyake 15 December 1932 Port Alfred, South Africa |
| Died | 16 July 2021 (aged 88) Gqeberha, South Africa |
| Other names | Mhe[1] |
| Education | St Matthew's Mission College, South Africa |
| Occupation | Community worker |
| Spouse |
Eric Majola (m. 1954) |
| Children | 5 |
| Family | Gerald Majola (son) |
Milase Jumartha Majola (15 December 1932 – 16 July 2021) was a South African community worker and social activist. She volunteered with the South African Girl Guides for 40 years. She received the Nelson Mandela University Council Africa Award in 2007.[2]
Milase Jumartha Moyake was born in Port Alfred, South Africa, to Wallace Moyake, a post office worker and Grace.[3] She was one of four children.[4] The family moved to Port Elizabeth when Jumartha was a child.
She married Eric Majola (1930-1971) in 1954. At the time he was the only Black South African to have represented South Africa at cricket.[5] They had five children, including Gerald Majola, who became Cricket South Africa's CEO.[6] In 1976 three of her children were "bundled up and put in a van" by the police for boycotting school, and subsequently badly beaten.[7] In 1980, the family had further trouble with the authorities after which one of her sons went into exile. These events led Majola into social activism.[8]
Career
Before her marriage, Majola earned a teaching diploma from St Matthew's Mission College, Keiskammahoek in 1951. She taught at Pendla Primary School in New Brighton, Eastern Cape for three years.[9] In the 1950s, South African law did not permit married women to teach, so after her marriage in 1954 she worked as a receptionist for a doctor's surgery for ten years, as a secretary and a shop clerk.[10] In 1971, Majola was appointed as an assistant recreational officer for the Bantu Administration, Ibhayi City Council,[11] a position she held until at least 1988.[12]
As a result of the issues her children faced with the police, she set up a youth centre in New Brighton. She would intervene "on behalf of youths who had been arrested in demonstrations or other political activities."[13] Majola also established the Hoza Golden Age group for the elderly in 1982[14] and was vice-chair of the Mayoress’s Work Party.[15] She also ran the Ivan Peter Club for 23 years.[16]
Girl Guides
Majola joined the Girl Guide movement as a Brownie which at the time was "the only movement in the country which provided contact with all races."[17] Majola went on to work for South Africa Girl Guides for 40 years. She started her first Girl Guide company at St Matthew's Mission College.[18] She was a member of the South African Girl Guide Headquarters representing Guides of the East Cape.[19] In 2007 she was still working with Guides from Kwazakhele, New Brighton and Zwide.[20]
