Frene Noshir Ginwala was a South African journalist and politician who was the first Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa from 1994 to 2004. She was influential in the writing of the Constitution of South Africa and an important figure in establishing democracy in South Africa.

Born in Johannesburg, on 25 April 1932, Ginwala was an Indian South African from the Parsi-Indian community of western India.

Ginwala has written a number of books dealing with various aspects of the struggle against injustice. For her efforts, she has been honoured by international and local institutions and governments.