Joyce Newton-Thompson

Joyce Newton-Thompson (; 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.

Early life Joyce Nettelfold was born in 1893 in London, England. In 1914, she completed a diploma in social science and administration from the London School of Economics, graduating with distinction. Nettelfold was active in the British women's suffrage movement, and one of her roles involved protecting suffragette leader Christabel Pankhurst as a personal bodyguard. She worked as a nurse during World War I, providing support to the Endell Street Military Hospital. In 1931, Newton-Thompson joined six other women and formed the Mothers' Clinic Committee – the first birth control organization in Cape Town. Her co-founders were Ursula Scott, Sallie Woodrow, Beatrice Newton, Adele Bell, Birch Reynardson and Isabel Haddon. She was Mayor of Cape Town from 1959 After her term as mayor, she continued working as a city councillor until 1968.

Newton-Thompson wrote a number of articles over the years and 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.

She died in 1978.