Helen Suzman takes pride of place among those liberals who devoted their lives to the fight for human rights and the rule of law in South Africa. From the start of a political career that spanned almost four decades, she challenged the iniquity of apartheid and used the privilege of parliament to expose the inhumanity of a system that came to be defined as a crime against humanity. Her struggle against the National Party, both within and outside of parliament, was relentless and often lonely. For thirteen years (1961-1974) she was the only Progressive Party member of parliament, confronting the apartheid government against great odds. Notwithstanding an enormously heavy parliamentary burden, she never failed, as far as possible, to investigate the often tragic consequences of apartheid legislation. Although she represented an affluent white constituency, she saw herself as an “honorary ombudsman for all those people who have no vote and no Member of Parliament.”

Within months other retirement in 1989, she had the pleasure of witnessing the collapse of apartheid and the introduction four years later of parliamentary democracy.

As South Africans begin to grapple with a contested past, it is imperative that the contribution of Helen Suzman be acknowledged. Her courage and dedication won her worldwide recognition. She was the recipient of twenty-seven Honorary Doctorates as well as Honorary Fellowships from some of the world’s most prestigious universities. In 1978, she received the United Nations Award of the International League for Human Rights in recognition of the unremitting struggle that she had fought for social and political justice. She also received various prestigious awards from Jewish organisations in the United States and has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1989, Queen Elizabeth conferred on her an Honorary Dame Commander (Civil Division) of the Order of the British Empire.

As a tribute to her efforts the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research at the University of Cape Town, in association with the South African Jewish Museum, mounted an exhibition in her honour. We are indebted to Millie Pimstone who conceptualised the exhibition, researched Helen Suzman’s family history, her early years and her political career, located the images and wrote the exhibition text reproduced in this catalogue. To Linda Bester, who was responsible for the exhibition design and digital artwork, we extend our appreciation for the excellent visual representation of the life of a remarkable South African. Numerous other contributions are acknowledged at the end of this catalogue.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge the initiative of Mendel and Robert Kaplan and the support and generosity of the Kaplan Kushlick Foundation.

Prof. Milton Shain
Director
Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research
University of Cape Town
March 2005