Jabulile Nyawose

Jabulile Nyawose (14 July 1948 – 4 June 1982) was a trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist in South Africa. Nyawose was killed in exile by a car bomb in an execution sanctioned by the South African government. She was posthumously honoured with a silver Order of Luthuli in 2015.

Jabulile Nyawose
Died	4 June 1982 Matsapha, Swaziland
Nationality	South African
Occupations	Trade unionist anti-apartheid activist
Spouse	Petrus Nyawose
Children	4

Biography

Nyawose's family were activists and her father was involved in the African National Congress (ANC).^[1] Nyawose was married to Petrus Nyawose, and both were very involved with the Black Allied Workers Union (BAWU).^[2] The couple had four children together, the second youngest of whom often spent time at the BAWU headquarters.^[2][3] Later, in exile, they had a fourth child.^[1]

Nyawose was recruited to act as a contact for two cells of the underground ANC, one run by Dhaya Pillay and the other by Shadrack Maphumulo.^[2] When Maphumulo was arrested in 1977, Nyawose and others involved worried they would be found out.^[2] Nyawose and her family went into exile, first crossing in to Botswana and then moving to Swaziland.^[1] They joined the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) that was active in Swaziland.^[1]

On 4 June 1982, Nyawose and her husband were killed when a car bomb exploded outside their house in Matsapha, near Manzini, Swaziland.^[4] Their three children witnessed the explosion and one, Nonzamo, testified about their death for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.^[3] The death was found to be sanctioned by the South African Government.^[3]

Nyawose was posthumously awarded a silver Order of Luthuli in 2015.^[5]