Rhoda Kadalie (22 September 1953 – 16 April 2022) was a South African activist and academic. She was a member of the South African Human Rights Commission from 1995 to 1997. She also founded the Gender Equity Unit at the University of the Western Cape.
Rhoda Kadalie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 September 1953 |
| Died | 16 April 2022 (aged 68) |
| Spouse |
Richard Bertelsmann (divorced) |
| Children | Julia Pollak |
| Father | Fenner Kadalie |
| Relatives | Joel Pollak (son-in-law) |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Harold Cressy High School |
| Alma mater | University of the Western Cape International Institute of Social Studies |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of Western Cape |
| Website | rhodakadalie |
Early life and education
editKadalie was born on 22 September 1953 in District Six, a predominantly Coloured neighbourhood of Cape Town.[1] Her father, Fenner Kadalie, was a prominent Christian clergyman, and her grandfather, Clements Kadalie, had been an important trade unionist. She was one of nine siblings.[1] The family lived in District Six until 1961, when they moved to the suburb of Mowbray. In 1970 they were forcibly removed from Mowbray under the apartheid-era Group Areas Act, and they moved to Primrose Park near Athlone.[2]
After matriculating at Harold Cressy High School, Kadalie attended the University of the Western Cape, where she studied library science and anthropology. She later completed a master's degree at the International Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands.[1]
Career and activism
editDuring apartheid, Kadalie was involved in feminist activism and anti-apartheid activism.[3] In 1993, using seed funding from the Ford Foundation, she founded the Gender Equity Unit at the University of the Western Cape and became the university's inaugural Gender Equity Coordinator.[4]
Under the post-apartheid government of President Nelson Mandela, she was appointed as a member of the Land Claims Commission and, from 1995 to 1997, as a member of the South African Human Rights Commission.[5] She went on to serve as director of the Impumelelo Centre for Social Innovation, a non-profit that promoted private-public partnership.[6] She also published social and political commentary in both English and Afrikaans, in which capacity she was often highly critical of the African National Congress government.[3]
Personal life and retirement
editKadalie married and divorced Richie Bertelsmann, a white academic;[7] their marriage contravened the apartheid-era Immorality Act.[8] Their only child, Julia Bertelsmann, became an economist, and she married American politician Joel Pollak in 2009 during a ceremony at the residence of Helen Zille, then the Premier of the Western Cape.[9][10] Pollak published a biography of his mother-in-law in 2023, entitled Comrade Kadalie, You Are Out of Order!.[11]
In 2018, Kadalie moved to Los Angeles, California to live with her daughter's family.[6] She became a supporter of Trumpism.[7] Though a committed Christian, she was also increasingly outspoken in her support of Israel.[12] Friends later said that her political conversion alienated her from former allies in South Africa.[7][13] Pollak, who is a Republican campaigner, suggested that Kadalie supported "the ongoing anti-'woke' backlash" and admired Trump "as a skollie – a 'ruffian,' in South African slang – who would shake up a complacent American establishment".[14]
She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 and died at home in Los Angeles on 16 April 2022.[6][8] A memorial service was held in Rondebosch, Cape Town in June, and Helen Zille was among the speakers; she joked that Kadalie's character was such that she could have made a success of any pursuit "except a diplomatic career".[12]
Honours
editIn June 1999 she received an honorary doctorate from Uppsala University.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b c Pollak, Joel B. (4 January 2023). Rhoda: ‘Comrade Kadalie, You Are Out of Order!’: A Biography. UJ Press. ISBN 978-1-7764134-8-5.
- ^ Kadalie, Rhoda (22 July 2013). "Forced to move from home". Cape Times. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b Barron, Chris (18 April 2022). "Rhoda Kadalie fought for women's rights and against state incompetence". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Oyegun, Julie (1998). "Working Masculinities Back into Gender". Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity (37): 13–23. doi:10.2307/4066167. ISSN 1013-0950.
- ^ "Interview with Rhoda Kadalie, human-rights activist". Issue. Helen Suzman Foundation. 30 November 2001. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ a b c McCain, Nicole (16 April 2022). "Human rights activist Rhoda Kadalie, 68, has died". News24. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Thamm, Marianne (17 April 2022). "Rhoda Kadalie, friend and mentor, political provocateur and groot bek". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b Pollak, Joel (16 January 2023). "Rhoda Kadalie's impact on South Africa and the world". PoliticsWeb. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "A not-so-proudly South African link to Trump's inner circle". The Mail & Guardian. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Kadalie: Columnist to trade SA for U.S." The Witness. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Horler, Vivien (26 February 2023). "'Comrade Kadalie, you are out of order!'". The Books Page. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b Gruzd, Steven (30 June 2022). "Remembering Rhoda Kadalie, feisty friend of Israel". Jewish Report. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Ndlovu, Mandisa (28 April 2022). "Rhoda Kadalie, the loudmouth, is dead". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Pollak, Joel (8 April 2022). "Rhoda Kadalie's journey to Trump supporter". PoliticsWeb. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Honorary Doctors of the Faculty of Social Sciences". Uppsala University (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 October 2018.
External links
edit- Publications by Rhoda Kadalie at ResearchGate
- Articles by Rhoda Kadalie at Maroela Media
- Interview with Elaine Salo