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Empowering Communities Through Education and Opportunity
At the Sophie & Henry De Bruyn Legacy Foundation we are dedicated to creating a brighter future for underserved communities. Through our innovative programs and partnerships, we strive to provide access to quality education and opportunities that empower individuals to reach their full potential. Join us in making a difference today!
Empowering Communities
The Sophie & Henry De Bruyn Legacy Foundation is committed to safeguarding the freedoms and democratic values for which Sophie and Henry De Bruyn devoted their lives. Inspired by their courage, sacrifice and lifelong dedication to justice, the Foundation works to preserve their legacy by promoting meaningful social change and addressing the inequalities that continue to affect communities. Through education, community empowerment and purposeful partnerships, we seek to create equal opportunities that enable people to build more secure and dignified futures—today and for generations to come.
Patron, Henry Benny Nato De Bruyn
When we were in exile we, the cadres of our organization, the ANC, didn’t look left or right; we had blinkers … to focus on the motherland—our beloved South Africa.
Henry Benny Nato De Bruyn, former Ambassador and ANC leader
In 1963, following the arrest of senior ANC leaders, Henry was instructed by the high command of the ANC to leave South Africa and went on to serve the African National Congress in exile for three decades. He managed income-generating projects in Zambia, broadcasted for Radio Freedom in Afrikaans (1971–1984), and represented the ANC at the United Nations and in international missions, including Italy, the Vatican, San Marino, and Kenya. After the country’s democratic transition, he joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and was appointed South Africa’s Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1995. After a battle with cancer, Henry De Bruyn passed away in 1999. His lifelong dedication to justice, freedom, and diplomacy continues to guide the work of the S&H DLF.
Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, born in 1938 in Port Elizabeth, is a renowned anti-Apartheid activist and the last living leader of the historic 1956 Women’s March against pass laws. Beginning as a textile union leader, she later worked in exile alongside the ANC, helping to establish education structures for South African youth. After 1994, she returned to serve in democratic government, including as Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature and later as a Member of Parliament. Honoured with numerous national awards, her lifelong fight for freedom, equality, and justice continues to guide the mission of the S&H DLF.
Patron, Sophia Theresa Williams De Bruyn
I felt a lump in my throat when I looked at this large army of women: dignified women, courageous women. I felt so humbled to be part of such bravery.
Sophia Williams‑De Bruyn, reflecting on the 1956 Women’s March
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