Thursday, 9 August 1956
In one of the largest demonstrations staged in this country’s history, 20 000 women of all races marched to Pretoria’s Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to present a petition against the carrying of passes by women to the prime minister, J G Strijdom.
This was the famous Women’s march celebrated as Women’s Day on 9 August each year. The march against the pass laws was organised by the Federation of South African Women (FSAW or FEDSAW). The Federation famously challenged the idea that ‘a woman’s place is in the kitchen’, declaring it instead to be ‘everywhere’. Although Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom was not at the Union Buildings to accept the petition, the women of South Africa sent a public message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by unjust laws. After the petition was handed over to the secretary of the prime minister, the women sang a freedom song: Wathint` abafazi, Strijdom!
Since then, the phrase ‘wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo’ (You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock) has come to represent the courage and strength of South African women. As a group that has been marginalised, they rose to question the barrier and fought for their emancipation and that of their families. The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in 1995 and since then annual celebrations take place throughout the country.
Visit our feature ‘History of Women’s struggle in South Africa’ for further information about South African Women’s Day.
Tuesday, 9 August 1960
A 13 year old Welsh schoolgirl, Lucille Sticker, from Waterhall Secondary School in Cardiff wrote a goodwill message and hoped that her letter would be passed on to any African girl in Cape Town. The letter was addressed to the “Head girl, any non-European Secondary School, Cape Town South Africa”?. It was unfortunately delivered to the Cape Department of Education. The letter was referred to as an “unfortunate error,”? by officials of the South African Information Service. The officials returned the letter to Lucille’s headmaster with a note saying “It was not the department’s policy to encourage correspondence between White pupils of any other country and non-White pupils in South Africa.”?
Officials would not reveal the contents of the letter.
Wednesday, 9 August 2000
President Thabo Mbeki unveiled the Women’s Monument at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The aim of the monument was to commemorate the role of women in the struggle and marked the 44th anniversary of the march of 20 000 women to the Union Buildings. The celebration and commemoration included the unveiling of the monument dedicated to the 1956 march and portraits of some of the women who led that march. The portraits included those of Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Raheema Moosa and Sophie De Bruin. Some of the survivors of the march were present to witness a symbolic victory of their struggle. Earlier on there was a march to the Union Buildings led by Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the veterans of the 1956 march.
The monument was executed jointly by sculptor Wilma Cruise and architect Marcus Holmes.
Wednesday, 9 August 1995
In one of the largest demonstrations staged in this country’s history, 20 000 women of all races marched to Pretoria’s Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to present a petition against the carrying of passes by women to the prime minister, JG Strijdom. The march against the pass laws was organised by the Federation of South African Women (FSAW or FEDSAW). The Federation famously challenged the idea that ‘a woman’s place is in the kitchen’, declaring it instead to be ‘everywhere’. Although Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom was not at the Union Buildings to accept the petition, the women of South Africa sent a public message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by unjust laws. After the petition was handed over to the secretary of the prime minister, the women sang a freedom song: Wathint` abafazi, Strijdom! Since then, the phrase’wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo’ (You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock) has come to represent the courage and strength of South African women.
The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in 1995. South Africa had just become a democratic country at the time, and the day was declared a national holiday. Since then annual celebrations take place throughout the country. It 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 since been declared National Women’s Month.
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