Jean de la Harpe was an anti-apartheid activist in the 1980s. She was involved in administrative work for the United Democratic Front (UDF), an organisation often viewed as the internal wing of the African National Congress (ANC). De la Harpe also prepared funding proposals, budgets, and reports for funders. She equally wrote annual reports and prepared much of the UDF's resource material. Her fundraising skills were also used during campaigns within the ANC, once the party was unbanned.