Women of fortitude celebrated
Former student activist and Member of Parliament Nompendulo Mkhatshwa encourages young women to step up and take the baton from old women leaders and continue with the struggle for women emancipation.
The last surviving leader of the 1956 Women’s March, Sophia Williams-de Bruyn has urged the current generation of young women to build on the foundation laid by 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid pass laws more than 60 years ago.
Mama Sophia was speaking at a Women’s Day commemoration event at Newclare Cemetery in Johannesburg on Sunday, August 8.
“Back then, we had one enemy. Women today are faced with many enemies including poverty, GBV and even diseases,” she said.
“Luckily, women today also have too many resources at their disposal which they must utilise. They must also build on the foundation laid by our struggle veterans like Albertina Sisulu, Helen Joseph, Lilian Ngoyi and Rahima Moosa.”
Under the theme, Remembering women of fortitude, the early Women’s Day commemoration event which started at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto where Helen Joseph and Lilian Ngoyi share a grave was organised jointly by the Ahmed Kathrada and Sophie & Henry De Bruyn Foundations.
This year’s commemoration takes an unusual turn with the Ahmed Kathranda Foundation embarking of a campaign to compile a list of names all those who took part in the Women’s March of 1956.
The list was unveiled at Avalon Cemetery and the Foundation has asked for assistance from members of the public to come forward with more names and stories so that all 20 000 women can get the recognition they deserve.
Former student activist and Member of Parliament Nompendulo Mkhatshwa encouraged young women to step up and take the baton from old women leaders and continue with the struggle for women emancipation.
She said, “Today we celebrate women of fortitude knowing that as women we are represented in leadership positions, but more still needs to be done.”
A wreath-laying ceremony was performed at the grave of Ngoyi and Joseph before proceedings moved to Newclare Cemetery where Moosa and Sisulu are resting. Mama Sophia led a wreath-laying ceremony at their graves and spoke fondly of Moosa and her role in the anti-apartheid struggle.
ANC Women’s League leader Nomvula Monkomyane said this year’s Women’s Day commemorations are specifically important because they coincide with the year of renewal for the ANC and the year of Charlotte Maxeke.
“When the country commemorates Women’s Day on August 9, we must all remember the giants and women of fortitude who led the march to Union Buildings in 1956. What also makes this important is that it reaffirms Mme Maxeke’s beliefs that women are always ready to lead and it must not be a favour to have women in leadership positions,” said Monkonyane.
Acknowledging women of fortitude who have done so much for our country #WomensMonth2021 #WomenOfFortitude pic.twitter.com/AxtCrQQGoS
— Kathrada Foundation (@KathradaFound) August 8, 2021
