Elizabeth Maria Molteno
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Maria Molteno (24 September 1852 – 25 August 1927), was a prominent early advocate of civil and women's rights
in South Africa.
Elizabeth was born into a very prominent Cape family of Anglo-Italian origin. She was the oldest and much beloved daughter of John Molteno
, the first Prime Minister of the Cape, and many of her 18 siblings came to hold positions of influence in business and government.
Choosing one of the few careers that were open to women in the 19th century, she became a teacher and later the principal of the Collegiate School for girls in Port Elizabeth. There she applied relatively advanced and liberal methods of teaching, including what was probably the first system of sex education for girls in the country. She was openly against the Anglo-Boer War when it began and for this reason had to give up her job. Miss Molteno had become close friends with Emily Hobhouse
and Olive Schreiner
and supported them in their causes both during and after the war. In Port Elizabeth she also met Alice Matilda Greene (aunt of the writer Graham Greene
) and thereafter maintained a lifelong friendship with her.
After the war, Miss Molteno was opposed to the new developments in South Africa and left for England. There she met Gandhi in 1909. They became friends, exchanged ideas and regularly corresponded over the next few decades.
She returned to South Africa in 1912, regularly visited Mr and Mrs Gandhi at their Phoenix Settlement for Indians and bought property close by at Ohlanga. She moved there during the satyagraha
campaign, her presence lending invaluable support to the movement - in no small part due to her standing and political connections. In speeches given with Gandhi at meetings in Durban
she urged Indians to identify with Africa.
A particularly important cause for her was the abuse of prisoners at the hands of the South African police force. While Gandhi himself was in prison, she visited beaten prisoners and testified at inquests. She similarly lobbied against the neglect that Mrs Gandhi also suffered whilst in prison.
A determined and formidable advocate of women’s rights, she met and worked with female passive resisters of all races and backgrounds. She was also a regular speaker at the movement's meetings, and espressed the hope that in a future multi-racial South Africa, women would be allowed to play a prominent part.
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
in South Africa.
Elizabeth was born into a very prominent Cape family of Anglo-Italian origin. She was the oldest and much beloved daughter of John Molteno
John Charles Molteno
Sir John Charles Molteno KCMG was a soldier, businessman, champion of responsible government and the first Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.-Early life:...
, the first Prime Minister of the Cape, and many of her 18 siblings came to hold positions of influence in business and government.
Choosing one of the few careers that were open to women in the 19th century, she became a teacher and later the principal of the Collegiate School for girls in Port Elizabeth. There she applied relatively advanced and liberal methods of teaching, including what was probably the first system of sex education for girls in the country. She was openly against the Anglo-Boer War when it began and for this reason had to give up her job. Miss Molteno had become close friends with Emily Hobhouse
Emily Hobhouse
Emily Hobhouse was a British welfare campaigner, who is primarily remembered for bringing to the attention of the British public, and working to change, the poor conditions inside the British concentration camps in South Africa built for Boer women and children during the Second Boer War.-Early...
and Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner was a South African author, anti-war campaigner and intellectual. She is best remembered today for her novel The Story of an African Farm which has been highly acclaimed ever since its first publication in 1883 for the bold manner in which it dealt with some of the burning issues...
and supported them in their causes both during and after the war. In Port Elizabeth she also met Alice Matilda Greene (aunt of the writer Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
) and thereafter maintained a lifelong friendship with her.
After the war, Miss Molteno was opposed to the new developments in South Africa and left for England. There she met Gandhi in 1909. They became friends, exchanged ideas and regularly corresponded over the next few decades.
She returned to South Africa in 1912, regularly visited Mr and Mrs Gandhi at their Phoenix Settlement for Indians and bought property close by at Ohlanga. She moved there during the satyagraha
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
campaign, her presence lending invaluable support to the movement - in no small part due to her standing and political connections. In speeches given with Gandhi at meetings in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
she urged Indians to identify with Africa.
A particularly important cause for her was the abuse of prisoners at the hands of the South African police force. While Gandhi himself was in prison, she visited beaten prisoners and testified at inquests. She similarly lobbied against the neglect that Mrs Gandhi also suffered whilst in prison.
A determined and formidable advocate of women’s rights, she met and worked with female passive resisters of all races and backgrounds. She was also a regular speaker at the movement's meetings, and espressed the hope that in a future multi-racial South Africa, women would be allowed to play a prominent part.
See also
- Emily HobhouseEmily HobhouseEmily Hobhouse was a British welfare campaigner, who is primarily remembered for bringing to the attention of the British public, and working to change, the poor conditions inside the British concentration camps in South Africa built for Boer women and children during the Second Boer War.-Early...
- Olive SchreinerOlive SchreinerOlive Schreiner was a South African author, anti-war campaigner and intellectual. She is best remembered today for her novel The Story of an African Farm which has been highly acclaimed ever since its first publication in 1883 for the bold manner in which it dealt with some of the burning issues...
- Sir John Charles Molteno
- Molteno (disambiguation)
Further reading
- Phillida Brooke Simons: Apples of the sun : being an account of the lives, vision and achievements of the Molteno brothers. Vlaeberg: Fernwood Press, 1999. ISBN 1-874950-45-8
- Susan K Martin: Women and Empire, Primary Sources on Gender and Anglo-Imperialism. Routledge, 2009. ISBN 978-0-415-31092-5