Barbara Hogan was born in 1952. Hogan collected information about trade unions and community organisations. She sent this information to an ANC contact in Botswana. Hogan was arrested for her involvement in the struggle, although she showed no violence towards the state and the only piece of evidence against her was that she was a member of the ANC. She was tried for treason and sentenced to ten years imprisonment in 1982. This made her the first white women to be convicted of treason after the Treason Trials of 1956-1961.

The first year of the sentence was carried out in conditions similar to those of solitary confinement. After this she was allowed some books, food parcels and a few visits. She also faced assault by her interrogators, and concurrently served a prison term for belonging to a banned organization (the ANC).

She was released in 1990 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the ANC. Other positions held by her include that of the Chairperson of the Audit Committee overseeing the work of the Auditor-General; a council member of the Robben Island Museum and Secretary–General of the ANC in Gauteng.

References

• ‘Soweto’ supplement, The Leader

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