Zainunnisa “Cissie” Gool

20th Century

Photograph of Cissie Gool. Image: Bailey’s African History Archive

“What I try to do is build a brighter and better population for Cape Town as a whole.” The flyer was clear － Cissie Gool was the “people’s own candidate”. Dated 5 September 1938, the flyer marked the beginning of Cissie’s official political career. She won the election and became the first woman to serve on the Cape City Council, representing the people of District Six. She held this position for over 15 years.

Cissie’s political activism was nurtured at her parents’ home on the edge of District Six. Her parents, Dr Abdullah Abdurahman and his wife Nellie, were politically active in different capacities and with different degrees of prominence and influence. Dr Abdullah led the anti-segregation movement called the African Political Organisation (APO). His first wife Nellie, a Scottish

immigrant he met during his years as a student in Glasgow, led the Women’s Guild of the APO and campaigned for the under-privileged.

Throughout her childhood her father dominated the political stage. In many arenas, he was held with high esteem as a fearless, faithful, eloquent man who connected with people from different walks of life. As a politically active family, Cissie was formed through the policies and messages she heard within the hallways of the Abdurahman home.

Young Cissie recited her first poem at an APO meeting, where she was immediately recognised by her fathers’ followers as a speaker with great intellect and promise. In later years her speaking ability would carve her life as a pioneer, a jewel of the people, a Joan of Arc, and a princess of District Six.

Cissie’s childhood tutors included feminist and activist Olive Schreiner, as well as Mahatma Gandhi, whose values of equality and freedom inspired young Cissie. After attending Trafalgar High School, which her father founded for black, coloured and Indian students, Cissie went on to study at university. She became the first woman of colour to earn a master’s degree from UCT and went on to study law part-time. She obtained her LLB degree a year before her death in 1963.

Cissie Gool co-founded the multi-racial National Liberation League and was the first president of the organisation. She was admitted to the Cape Town Bar just weeks before her death and with her entry she became the first female of colour to earn this position. She was also chosen as president of the non-European United Front, an offshoot of the National Liberation League, that organised large protests against the apartheid government. In 1946 she was arrested for participating in the Passive Resistance Campaign, a non-violent protest led by her tutor, Mahatma Gandhi.