Jumartha Majola

Jumartha Majola
Majola from a 1988 issue of Guiding magazine
Born
Milase Jumartha Moyake

(1932-12-15)15 December 1932
Port Alfred, South Africa
Died16 July 2021(2021-07-16) (aged 88)
Gqeberha, South Africa
Other namesMhe[1]
EducationSt Matthew's Mission College, South Africa
OccupationCommunity worker
Spouse
Eric Majola
​
(m. 1954)​
Children5
FamilyGerald 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]

Personal life

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]

Awards

  • 1994: "Woman of the Year" Union of Jewish Women in Gqeberha - nomination[21]
  • 1995: Mayor of Port Elizabeth's "Citizen of the Year" award, youth category[22]
  • 1995: Women’s Bureau/Pick n Pay "Raymond Ackerman Award" for outstanding social responsibility - nomination[23]
  • 1998: Women’s Bureau of South Africa recognition[24]
  • 2004: "Mayoral Award for Excellence" for outstanding contribution in community development[25]
  • 2004: "Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for Patriotic Volunteerism" certificate[26]
  • 2007: "Nelson Mandela University Council Africa" award[27]
  • 2008: "Nelson Mandela District Achievers Award" in recognition of her volunteer work[28]
  • 2008: Eastern Cape Awards "Community Builder of the Year" senior category - nomination[29]
  • 2012: "Senior Citizen of the Year between the ages 70- 80" certificate in recognition of community outreach[30]
  • 2014: "Senior Citizen of the Year"[31]

Also Nelson Mandela University Council Prestige Award[32]

See also

  • Odendaal, Andre (2003). The Story of an African Game: Black Cricketers and the Unmasking of One of Cricket's Greatest Myths, South Africa, 1850-2003. Cape Town, South Africa: David Phillip. ISBN 0 86486 638 0.

References

  1. ^ Devon Koen (2021-07-18). "Much-loved mama Majola dies at 89". dailydispatch.co.za. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
  2. ^ "Jumartha Majola". mandela.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  3. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  4. ^ Romera, Patricia W (1998). Profiles in Diversity: Women in the new South Africa. Michigan, USA: Michigan University Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780870134470.
  5. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  6. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  7. ^ Romera, Patricia W (1998). Profiles in Diversity: Women in the new South Africa. Michigan, USA: Michigan University Press. p. 128. ISBN 9780870134470.
  8. ^ Romero, Patricia W (2015). African woman: a historical panorama. Princeton USA: Markus Weiner. p. 217. ISBN 9781558765757.
  9. ^ Zamandulo Malonde (2021-07-22). "Mabuyane visits bereaved families of two 'who made world a better place'". theherald.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  10. ^ Romera, Patricia W (1998). Profiles in Diversity: Women in the new South Africa. Michigan, USA: Michigan University Press. p. 127. ISBN 9780870134470.
  11. ^ Devon Koen (2021-07-18). "Much-loved mama Majola dies at 89". dailydispatch.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  12. ^ Sue Ryan (February 1988). "Guiding light in all her words and deeds". The Guider (Vol. 77 No. 2 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. p. 39.
  13. ^ Romera, Patricia W (1998). Profiles in Diversity: Women in the new South Africa. Michigan, USA: Michigan University Press. p. 129. ISBN 9780870134470.
  14. ^ Romera, Patricia W (1998). Profiles in Diversity: Women in the new South Africa. Michigan, USA: Michigan University Press. p. 129. ISBN 9780870134470.
  15. ^ "Jumartha Majola". mandela.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  16. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  17. ^ Sue Ryan (February 1988). "Guiding light in all her words and deeds". The Guider (Vol. 77 No. 2 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. p. 39.
  18. ^ Romera, Patricia W (1998). Profiles in Diversity: Women in the new South Africa. Michigan, USA: Michigan University Press. p. 127. ISBN 9780870134470.
  19. ^ Sue Ryan (February 1988). "Guiding light in all her words and deeds". The Guider (Vol. 77 No. 2 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. p. 39.
  20. ^ "Jumartha Majola". mandela.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  21. ^ Devon Koen (2021-07-18). "Much-loved mama Majola dies at 89". dailydispatch.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  22. ^ Devon Koen (2021-07-18). "Much-loved mama Majola dies at 89". dailydispatch.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  23. ^ Devon Koen (2021-07-18). "Much-loved mama Majola dies at 89". dailydispatch.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  24. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  25. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  26. ^ Devon Koen (2021-07-18). "Much-loved mama Majola dies at 89". dailydispatch.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  27. ^ "Jumartha Majola". mandela.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  28. ^ Devon Koen (2021-07-18). "Much-loved mama Majola dies at 89". dailydispatch.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  29. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  30. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  31. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  32. ^ Gift Ngqondi (2021-07-18). "ANC EC mourns the passing away of Mama Majola". anceasterncape.org.za. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
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