Today (August 9) is National Women’s Day, an annual holiday that is celebrated in South Africa. Because it falls on a Sunday this year, the public holiday will be tomorrow (August 10).
On August 9, 1956, 20,000 women staged a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the ‘pass’.
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 60 years since, the phrase has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa.
In 2006, a re-enactment of the march was staged for its 50th anniversary, with many of the 1956 march veterans attending.
The month of August is now dedicated to women and is marked by several government events such as a trade fair for women’s crafts and a symposium on labour issues.
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