Joyce Newton-Thompson
Joyce Newton-Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Cape Town | |
| In office 1959–1961 | |
| Preceded by | John Orville Billingham |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Honikman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joyce Nettelfold 9 March 1893 London, England |
| Died | 22 October 1978 (aged 85) Pinelands, Cape Town |
| Nationality | British, South African |
| Spouse | Cyril Newton-Thompson |
| Relations | Lucy Nettlefold (sister) |
| Children | Christopher Newton Thompson Oswald Newton-Thompson |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics (Diploma, 1914) |
| Occupation | Politician, community organizer, author |
| Known for | First woman elected mayor of Cape Town |
Joyce Newton-Thompson (née Nettelfold; 9 March 1893 – 22 October 1978) was a British-born South African politician, community organizer and author. Growing up in London, England, she was active in the British women's suffrage movement. After immigrating to Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband in 1919, Newton-Thompson became involved in organizing community initiatives such as free meals for schoolchildren and the first birth control clinic in the city.
In 1951, Newton-Thompson was elected to city council, and in 1959 she became the first female mayor of Cape Town, followed by Patricia Kreiner in 1993. She supported initiatives that celebrated European colonization of South Africa, but also openly criticized South African cities such as Bloemfontein that enforced racial segregation of children and racist seating policies at public festivals.
Newton-Thompson authored two books: Gwelo Goodman, South African artist (1951) and The story of a house (1968). She received an honorary LL.D degree from the University of Cape Town in 1971.