Feroza Adam
Photo: South African History Online
Country: South Africa
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
ABOUT
Feroza Adam (August 16, 1961-August 8, 1994) was a South African activist, who was heavily involved in the women’s movement, having been active in organizations such as The Federation of South African Women and African National Congress Women’s League.
Biography by Jaedyn Griddine
Notice of a memorial service on Saturday, August 13, 1994, for Feroza Adam. Venue - Chris Jan Botha Senior Secondary School. Source: South African History Online.
Feroza Adam etched her legacy into various organizations and countless individuals who knew her as a friend, mentor, and comrade. Every breath she took went toward her life’s mission-to forge a tolerant, equitable world and improve women’s condition.
Adam’s dedication to politics started at a very young age; she has described herself as being drawn to politics during her time at Nirvana High School in Lenasia, South Africa. She then progressed onto the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she wasted no time in acquiring her executive role in the Azanian Students Organization, in addition to participating in student groups associated with the Transvaal Indian Congress, all while completing her degree. She then completed post-graduate studies in education and pursued a career as a teacher for five years, though she continued to participate in anti-apartheid politics during this time, showing the extent to which she was willing to improve upon the lives of her students, her community and her country. Her work came at a cost, however; her political work often forced her to be violently antagonized by police, leading her to sustain injuries and even spend days in jail. Adam’s relentless efforts to advance justice led her to her membership in the Federation of Transvaal Women (FEDTRAW), a United Democratic Front (UDF) affiliate, in 1982.
In 1984, she became the public secretary for the FEDTRAW executive, then climbed ranks in 1988 to become the UDF’s national coordinator. Her next destination was the African National Congress’ Women’s League (ANCWL), and understandably so, as women’s issues were always at the forefront of her concerns; she acted as their Campaigns and Publicity Secretary. It is with the ANC that Adams made some of her greatest strides in her career, and, conversely, she was instrumental to the success of the ANC; in fact, she was a foundational member of the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging (PWV) region of the ANC, where she acted as executive. She then helped establish the National Women’s Coalition (NWC) and facilitated their committee meetings. All of her invaluable work in these various committees bolstered her political capabilities, and she was eventually elected ANC Whip of South Africa’s first democratically-elected government in 1994-she was the youngest member of parliament.
Feroza Adams touched the lives of many-politically and emotionally. She is remembered for her infectious laugh, her selflessness, and her willingness to impart her wisdom on others, to bring others up with her as she succeeded. She fought apartheid and gender discrimination until the end of her life, and her impact on South African democracy is immeasurable. The Feroza Adam Memorial lecture at the Institute for Gender Studies, as well as the iTouch Foundation, were created in her honor to continue her legacy.
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