Du Toit was born in the former Transvaal Province on a farm, where she had one elder brother, though both children were virtually orphaned by the age of three[2] as their mother died in 1912 in childbirth, and their father served with the South African Forces in France during World War I where he was severely shell shocked.

When Du Toit was eighteen, she moved to Johannesburg where she began to work with trade unionist Johanna Cornelius.

The owner of the factory was Jewish and appreciated Du Toit's "anti-racist and anti-Nazi sensibilities.

[4] During her time there, she attempted to form a union committee which had an equal number of white and black representatives.

[4] In 1942 she married for the second time to Guy Routh who was also a Communist and who flew seaplanes during World War II.

[6] On the day of the protest in Johannesburg, December 8, Du Toit ensured that she and others were arrested (which was part of the goal).

[1] Du Toit got stranded in Dar es Salaam, where Gordimer visited her and helped her get to Ghana.

"[1] In 2012, Du Toit was posthumously awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver under the name Elizabeth Sophia Honman.

[1] Du Toit openly defied the Immorality Act, living with her forbidden husband, who was black.