Fatima Meer Cause of Death, Biography, Age, Parents, Wife, Net Worth - Fatima Mee was born on August 12, 1928. She is well-known to be a distinguished South African figure and she is known for her roles as a writer, academic, screenwriter, as well as prominent anti-apartheid activist.
Fatima Meer Cause of Death
On March 12, 2010, Fatima Meer passed away at St. Augustine's Hospital in Durban at the age of 81. Her death was attributed to a stroke that she had experienced two weeks prior to her passing.
Fatima Meer Age
At the time of her death, she was 81 years old.
Fatima Meer Career
During her youth, at the age of 16 in 1944, Meer actively participated in raising funds for famine relief in Bengal, India. She completed her education at the Durban Indian Girls High School. Even as a student, she displayed remarkable leadership by rallying fellow students to establish the Student Passive Resistance Committee.
This committee aimed to collect funds for the Indian community's passive resistance campaign between 1946 and 1948. Through this initiative, Meer encountered influential figures like Yusuf Dadoo, Monty Naicker, and Kesaveloo Goonam.
She later enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand for a year, where she was involved with a Trotskyism group affiliated with the Non-European Unity Movement (NEUM). Subsequently, she pursued her studies at the University of Natal, earning Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sociology.
In 1950, Meer, along with Kesaveloo Goonam, became the first women elected to the executive of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC). Notably, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Durban and District Women's League on October 4, 1952. This organization was formed to foster collaboration between Africans and Indians following race riots that occurred in 1949.
The league, with Bertha Mkhize as chairperson and Meer as secretary, took on various projects such as childcare and distributing milk at Cato Manor. Their efforts extended to aiding tornado victims in Springs and the Sea Cow Lake flood victims, collecting substantial funds for assistance.
As the National Party came into power in 1948 and implemented apartheid policies, Fatima Meer's activism intensified. Her dedication to activism led to her being "banned" in 1952 for a period of three years. She played an instrumental role in the founding of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) in 1954, an organization that spearheaded the historic women's march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9, 1956.
Her leadership during the Women's March marked her as a key figure in the anti-apartheid struggle. Throughout the 1960s, she organized night vigils to protest the arbitrary detention of anti-apartheid activists without trial outside Durban prison. During the 1970s, she aligned with the Black Consciousness Ideology, notably collaborating with the South African Student Organisation (SASO) led by Steve Biko.
In 1975, Meer, alongside Winnie Mandela, co-founded the Black Women's Federation (BWF), with Meer becoming its first president. Despite facing setbacks, including being banned once again for five years, she continued her activism. In the wake of the Soweto Uprisings in 1976, she was detained and faced an assassination attempt shortly after her release. She attributed this second attack to the Black Consciousness Movement and the Inkatha Freedom Party.
Meer's dedication extended beyond political activism. She demonstrated her commitment through various charitable initiatives. She published the book "Portrait of Indian South Africans" in 1969, donating all its proceeds to the Gandhi Settlement to establish a Gandhi Museum and Clinic. She orchestrated rescue operations for 10,000 Indian flood victims in Tin Town along the Umgeni River, ensuring their resettlement in Phoenix.
Meer founded the Natal Education Trust to raise funds for school construction in underserved areas. The establishment of Tembalishe Tutorial College in Gandhi's Phoenix home aimed to teach secretarial skills to black students. While the college and Crafts Centre were closed in 1982 due to her detainment, Meer's initiatives continued through scholarships, assistance for threatened homeowners, and collaborations to provide education opportunities in medicine and political sciences.
Meer's achievements extended to her academic and intellectual pursuits. Her dedication to education also led her to establish the Institute for Black Research (IBR), transforming it into a research and publishing institution and educational NGO in 1972.
Throughout her life, Fatima Meer stood as an exemplar of activism, scholarship, and philanthropy, leaving an indelible mark on South African history and society.
Fatima Meer Family
Her children are Rashid Meer, Shehnaz Meer, and Shamin Meer.
Fatima Meer Net Worth
She has an estimated net worth of $1.3 Million
