THE words ‘women’ and ‘sacrifice’ go together in the context of South African and world social and political history.
This week we have celebrated Women’s Day as part of Women’s Month.
There is a tendency to trivialise, commercialise or sentimentalise days such as this.
There is also the inclination to pigeonhole women according to traditional roles, professions and responsibilities.
Thankfully, those traditional perceptions are changing.
The reality is, this day in particular is one that has its roots in an event so brave and profound, it changed the course of our nation’s history.
On 9 August 1956 a courageous group of about 20 000 women of all races, led by Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie Williams–De Bruyn, marched on the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Their mission: to protest among others against the iniquitous ‘pass laws’ that had led to so many brutal attacks and imprisonments against innocent citizens by the dark State security agents.
More than any other sector of an oppressed society, women were most affected and bore a heavy burden in the struggle for justice.
They vented their anger at great personal risk.
It didn’t happen overnight, but by this and continual protests and resistance, the anti-pass campaign played a major role in the transformation to a democratic South Africa.
The original protesters and those who walked in their footsteps since then, ensured the dignity and respect of all women.
Sadly, one form of injustice has been replaced by others.
The great enemy against our mothers, wives and daughters of all ages is now rape, domestic violence and the scourge of HIV/Aida.
It is shocking, disheartening and despicable to learn that In South Africa, a girl is more likely to be raped than to get an education and that every 17 seconds a woman suffers the terror of rape.
That’s more than 5 000 every day.
Women’s Day 2016 has a theme, namely ‘Pledge for Parity’.
That’s a noble ambition, to ensure equal pay for equal work and correct the many inequalities females still face today.
While we heartily endorse this objective, above that we support the human right of every woman to live in a world without violence, rape and fear.
That should be the country’s top priority, to protect those who hold a special place in the past, present and future history of our nation.
