1930 – 1985. A life of courage, compassion and solidarity.
The people's heroine
Born in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), Molly Blackburn was a mother of seven, a businesswoman, a politician and a human rights activist who became one of the most trusted allies of black communities resisting apartheid in the Eastern Cape.
Elected to the Cape Provincial Council in 1981 as a representative of the Progressive Federal Party, she used her political position not for personal advancement but to challenge injustice. Working closely with fellow Black Sash activist Di Bishop, she investigated police brutality, supported detainees and their families, gathered evidence of human rights abuses and helped communities demand accountability.
Her work brought her into close association with grassroots leaders, including Matthew Goniwe of the Cradock Four. She played a pivotal role in exposing the truth about the 1985 Langa Uitenhage massacre at the Kannemeyer Commission of Inquiry.
Molly refused to allow race, ideology or political affiliation to stand in the way of human solidarity. Her courage earned her the trust of communities, the hostility of the apartheid security establishment and admiration across political divides.
She died in a motor accident on 28 December 1985, aged just 55. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people attended her funeral – an extraordinary demonstration of the affection and respect she inspired.
Her legacy lives on as a reminder that moral courage, truth-telling and practical solidarity can transcend even the deepest divisions in society.
Molly kneeling among residents on Maduna Road, Langa (1985) – a moment of nonviolent courage captured in the book.