Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Womens Day on the 9th August in South Africa? It has nothing to do with honouring women just because we need another “Mother’s Day”, this day commemorates the 9 August 1956 when women participating in a national march petitioned against pass laws …
(For anyone who does not know the history – “pass laws” were legislation that required African persons to carry a document on them to ‘prove’ that they were allowed to enter a ‘white area’ during the Apartheid regime).
On this day in 1956, over 20 000 women of all races and ages from every corner of South Africa marched together towards the Union Buildings in Pretoria. These brave women were marching in protest against the pass laws that proposed even further restrictions on the movements of women.
Organised by the Federation of South African Women, the March 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 9 August National Women’s Day.
Related Links:
Women’s Struggle in South Africa – For anyone interested in reading up more on this topic, this link will take you to the SA History site’s page on “The turbulent 1950s – Women as defiant activists”. There is a lot of interesting information available on this site.
This link – The Women’s March, 9 August 1956 – gives a very comprehensive account of the preparations for and events of this day we now commemorate every year. Interesting reading! We salute these wonderful Women.
Photo Credits:
Photograph of Lilian Ngoyi © Robben Island Mayibuye Archives
Photograph of Women’s Monument by and © Kalden Ongmu for Africa News Network
South African Links:
- South Africa’s Attractions
- Things to Do in South Africa
- South African Hotels
- South Africa Accommodation
- South Africa Travel
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Thanks, really great, how should we celebrate womens day though?
To the families of the women who led the march to Union building I hope the spirit is still burning within their hearts and families and when they see South Africa now and its history there is a difference. Women in some areas are recognised as leaders eg-Gauteng premier,Eastern Cape,others are Mayors, Ministers, MECs and so forth. Thank you so much Bomama, we need to be strong like those 1956 ladies who risked their lives. Now we are FREE in SA living in surburbs not only working there, eating, schooling, playing, married with whites without any fear.
The bravery of the woman of 1956, I wish it would still apply today so that the amount of woman abuse can come to an end, we need the likes of Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa so that they can stand up and say i am fed up, this is coming to an end. All honour to the woman of 1956.
thanks 4 da speech u realy helped me with my history task nd wow it rocks
women marching on to union building in pretoria on june 16 wathinta bafazi wa thinti mbokoto!!!!
AMANDL
women marching on to union building in pretoria on june 16 wathinta bafazi wa thinti mbokoto!!!!
AMANDLA
i’m proudly south african and proud of what the country has achieved.won’t trade my south africa for any other.womans day is the best day that happens for many woman in south africa. VIVA SOUTH AFRICA.
Our mothers are as brave as a lions, they always protect what they want indeed, they have protect our country. Without u we won’t be celebrating Women’s day, re a leboga bomma
Thank God for them, for people that changed circumstances!
20,000 Women marching on to Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 09, 1956 – June 16, 1976 has to be acknowledged as the cornerstone of their courageous uprising …
AMANDLA!
I am proud to be a women especially a South African.I humbly thanking all bo mama who participated on the march in 1956,You’re indeed The rocks!!!
I am definately proud to called myself a proud female south african….GO S.A!!!!
i support the fact that women should have the same rights as men.i am proud to call myself proudly south african and i am extremly proud and greatful to what all the women have done
i support the fact that women should have the same rights as men.i am proud to call myself proudly south african and i am extremly proud and greatful to what al the women have done
i find this interesting im doing a project on womans day at school
i find this article very interesting…I’m only a teenager but very proud to be a young, female citizen of this awesome country.
“you strike a woman…you strike a rock”
SIYABONGA BOMAMA ,FOR THE ACT OF BRAVERY YOU SHOWED TO DILIVER US FROM THAT SLAVERY
women are brave people.we are so better than boys,without us they wont be in thts world.
This is wonderful to remember our mothers what they done we have to respect our God great them to great us May God bless all mothers
Bomme ba tshwara thipa ka bohaleng,i know women can do it.not only in this month though out the year phambile bomme
Namuhla sikhululekile, thank you so much to those brave women.
I’m pround to be a South African woman. Abomama bethu are brave and now we are no longer carrying domaps. They fought the system without a weapon and they won the battle. Wathinta abafazi wathinta imbokodo. Mangwna o tshwarar thipa ka fa bogaleng .
Please i want to do the big walk on the 9th of next month
I am so proud to be a South African woman, as our freedom were not fought by our men alone but the mothers of the nation too. Thank you so much BOMAMA BETHU!!!
I can’t agree with you more Promise!!!
It was a courageous thing this women did for us and our liberation back then looking now how things have changed for better for the youth of South Africa across boader and race, social, financial and other wise… Igama lama khosikazi malibongwe, wathinta abafazi wathinta imbokodo…
I found your short article about the origin of Women’s Day very helpful and interesting!