Women’s day: Wathinta abafazi wathita imbokodo
"The women famously challenged the idea that their place was in the kitchen."
It was a selfless act by the more than 20 000 women of all races in 1956, now it is a day for rallying the nation to the cause of the women.
Women’s day, commemorated annually on 9 August, honours and remembers those brave women who stood up to the apartheid government to protest an apartheid policy that forced black women to carry passbooks.
It was already law for black men to carry passbooks.
“[It was] one of the largest demonstrations in the history of this country when 20 000 women of all races marched to Pretoria’s Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to present a petition against the carrying of passbooks by women to the prime minister, JG Strijdom,” said SA History on its website.
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The march was organised by the Federation of SA Women.
“The federation famously challenged the idea that ‘a woman’s place is in the kitchen’, declaring it instead ‘everywhere’.”
“Though Strijdom was not at the Union Buildings to accept the petition, the women sent a public message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by unjust laws.”
The march was led by the late Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams, with the women chanting “wathint` abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo” (you strike a woman, you strike a rock).
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The song has come to represent the courage and strength of South Africa’s women.
The first Women’s day was celebrated in 1995.
Since then Women’s day has become one of the national holidays where activities are organised with women in prominent positions making appearances and giving speeches at different venues across the country.
August has also been declared Women’s month.
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