National Women's Day - 9 August 1956

 

Women’s Day is a public holiday celebrated in South Africa every 9 August. This day commemorates the National March of Women on 9 August 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the “pass”. This identity document, curtailed  Africans' movement throughout South Africa during the apartheid era.

On 9 August 1956, 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly knows 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 children on their backs. Those who worked 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.) “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