Wendy Heather Woods (née Bruce; 5 February 1941 – 19 May 2013) was a South African educator and anti-apartheid activist.
[1][2] She did well in school, skipping a year ahead and eventually leaving home at the age of 16 in 1958 to work in Pietermartitzburg as a librarian.
[1] Her family had a cottage in Transkei Wild Coast, which is where she met her future husband, Donald Woods, as a young person.
[6] Eventually, her husband was banned by the South African government, so Woods would have to talk to people, including the media, in his stead.
[8] During the 13-day inquest, her six-year-old daughter was sent a shirt that was laced with acid by the security police, burning her and spurring the family to choose exile.
[5] Both she and her husband worked as consultants on the film that depicted their family and Biko, Cry Freedom (1987) where she was portrayed by Penelope Wilton.
[1] She worked as the foundation's chair for ten years, helping to build health clinics, educational workshops and other programs for vulnerable people and children in the Eastern Cape.