About Duma Kumalo
Lived 1958 – 2006 (aged 47–48). Duma Kumalo was a South African writer and human rights defender.
Duma Joshua Kumalo (died 3 February 2006) was a South African human rights activist and one of the Sharpeville Six. He was condemned to death under the 1984 law of "common purpose", which allowed a person to be convicted for having been in the vicinity of an offence, without personally committing it. In 1988, he received a stay of execution the day before sentence was to be carried out. Following his release from jail in 1991, Kumalo became involved in many human rights activities, including discussions about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and work with Amnesty International. He was a founder member of the Khulumani Support Group for victims of apartheid-related violence.
Kumalo also became involved in theatre and film projects as a way of telling his story and engaging others with human rights issues. His play The Story I Am About To Tell enjoyed huge success, running in South Africa and internationally for five years.
Works Theatre The Story I Am About to Tell He Left Quietly, with Yael Farber
Video Facing Death... Facing Life, documentary with Ingrid Gavshon
Miscellaneous The Bones Are Still Calling, with Seputla Sebogodi Kumalo also contributed to Zulu Love Letter, by Ramadan Suleman and Bheki Pieterson.
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Important facts
People in Duma Kumalo's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Duma Kumalo's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Duma Kumalo?
South African human rights activist (1958–2006)
When was Duma Kumalo born?
Duma Kumalo was born in 1958.
When did Duma Kumalo die?
Duma Kumalo died on 3 February 2006.
What was Duma Kumalo's occupation?
Duma Kumalo was a writer and human rights defender.
What nationality was Duma Kumalo?
Duma Kumalo was South African.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Duma Kumalo. https://biography.guide/duma-kumalo/
MLA: "Duma Kumalo." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/duma-kumalo/.
Chicago: "Duma Kumalo." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/duma-kumalo/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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