Women’s suffrage in South Africa is often associated with the struggle for full democracy in the country and a step towards achieving greater equality. From the early 1800s, women were not allowed to vote. When democracy was declared in the 1994 elections, women’s voting rights were marked with a new constitution.
Women in South Africa gained the right to vote in 1994. The struggle for women’s suffrage in South Africa began with a petition by a group of women, who were led by Helen Joseph, which was submitted to the government of the time.
In 1996, Helen Joseph and six other women were arrested and charged with treason. They were sentenced to death, but this sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The struggle for women’s rights continued and gained momentum after Nelson Mandela took office as president in 1994.
