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South African women were a dynamic anti-apartheid force, challenging patriarchy and all axes of oppression. In this book national concerns are covered with a focus on Western Cape grassroots women´s structures. Though many initially organised as mothers, women transformed motherhood into empowering roles. This book sketches a pivotal time: 1980s states of emergency, negotiations ending apartheid and first twenty years of the new SA. Using interviews and reports, Gertrude shares women´s trials and triumphs over this 35-year period. Through tracing women´s political agency and resistance, it asserts that women profoundly contributed to the New SA. Post-94, new challenges of implementing progressive gender-sensitive policies abound. Currently many women are in government and decision-making positions. To what extent representation of women has constructively contributed to women´s attaining citizenship, eradicating patriarchy, poverty and violence against women is evaluated. After 20 years of freedom in SA, despite progress, the struggle continues for women´s comprehensive citizenship.

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South African Black feminist Gertrude Fester participated in anti-apartheid women´s struggles and continues working for social justice. As many South Africans, she went from political prison to parliament. A writer and passionate about transformation, she taught at universities globally, most recently at Rwandan Gender Center. She has a PhD (LSE)

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