National Women’s Day

is an annual Public Holiday

in South Africa on August 9.

A National Women’s Day protest

at the

National University of Lesotho

On 9 August 1956, 20 000 women staged a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the pass laws) of 1950. They left bundles of petitions containing more than 100 000 signatures at prime minister J.G. Strijdom’s office doors. Outside they stood silently for 30 minutes, many with their children on their backs. Those who were working for Whites as nannies were carrying their white charges with them.

The women sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion: Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’imbokodo! (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.). In the 54 years since, the phrase (or its latest incarnation: “you strike a woman, you strike a rock”) has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa.

The march was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn.

Other participants included Frances Baard, a statue of whom was unveiled by Northern Cape Premier Hazel Jenkins in Kimberley (Frances Baard District Municipality) on National Women’s Day 2009.

This Commemorates the National March of Women on this day in 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the “pass”, special identification documents which curtailed an African’s Freedom of Movement during the ‘apartheid era’.

Since 9 August 1994, the day has been commemorated annually and is known as Women’s Day in South Africa.

In 2006 a reenactment of the march was staged for its 50th anniversary, with many of the 1956 march veterans attending. 

 

Imagine over 20 000 women of all races and ages from every corner of South Africa marching together towards the Union Buildings in Pretoria. On 9 August 1956 these women were marching in protest against the pass laws that proposed even further restrictions on the movements of women.

The Federation of South African Women (Fedsaw) organized the March, led by four women; Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Sophy Williams and Lilian Ngoyi.

The leaders delivered petitions to Prime Minister JG Strijdom’s office within the Union Buildings. Women throughout the country had put their names to these petitions indicating their anger and frustration at having their freedom of movement restricted by the hated official passes.

To conclude the Women’s March the women sang freedom songs such as Nkosi sikeleli Afrika, however, the song that became the anthem of the march was “Wathint’ abafazi, Strijdom!”

 
 

wathint’ abafazi,
wathint’ imbokodo,
uza kufa!

[When] you strike the women,
you strike a rock,
you will be crushed [you will die]!

The march was a resounding success and we recognise the bravery of these women who risked arrest, detention and banning by declaring 9 August National Women’s Day.
 
 

A Celebration of Women

sends our Blessings & Love to all the

Women of South Africa…..

 

 

Celebrate Your Lives & Equality!