South African activist One of the founders, in 1948, of the Women's Progressive Union Amina Cachalia was also involved in the founding of the Federation of South African Women, in 1954. She was instrumental in the 1950s for the success of the Defiance Campaign. Her activism commenced at an early age when she joined the Transvaal Indian Congress and then the ANC. She was arrested and sentenced to 14 days in prison for her participation in the Germiston March. After her release she was involved in the 20,000-Woman-March After the Rivonia Trial Amina and her husband were banned and placed under house arrest. This ban continued for 15 years. During this time she campaigned to oppose the Tricameral Parliament. When democratic elections arrived in 1994 Amina was offered a high office in government, which she declined. Amina was awarded the Order of Luthuli in bronze for "her lifetime contribution to the struggle for gender equality, non-racialism and a free and democratic South Africa". Born in Vereeniging, Transvaal (now Gauteng), South Africa Amina Cachalia passed away in Johannesburg.