National Women’s Day commemorates August 9, 1956, when women participating in a national march petitioned against pass laws.
Pass laws were legislation that required Africans to carry a document on them to prove they were allowed to enter a ‘white area’ during the Apartheid regime.
Over 20 000 women from all over South Africa, all races and ages marched together to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, in protest of the pass law.
The march, organised by the Federation of South African Women, was led by four brave women: Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Sophie Williams and Lilian Ngoyi. The leaders delivered petitions to Prime Minister JG Strijdom’s office within the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Women throughout South Africa 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 South Africa recognises the bravery of these women who risked arrest, detention and banning by declaring August 9 National Women’s Day.
