South Africa has commemorated the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women's March, with President Cyril Ramaphosa paying tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched against apartheid pass laws.
The President led the national commemoration at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Sunday, the same location where women gathered on 9 August 1956 to protest against the apartheid government's pass laws.
Ramaphosa described the Women's March as one of the most important events on South Africa's national calendar and highlighted the role women played in the country's struggle for freedom.
“Today is no ordinary commemoration. National Women’s Day is a day on which we honour the women of South Africa. But it is also a day of profound significance for our entire country.
“The Women’s March of 1956 was not a footnote in our struggle for freedom. That helped to change the course, the character and the leadership of that struggle. It demonstrated that women were not merely supporters of the struggle. They were its leaders, its organisers and its authors,” President Ramaphosa said.
Thousands Of Women Marched Against Apartheid Pass Laws
On 9 August 1956, more than 20,000 women from across South Africa marched to the Union Buildings to oppose legislation that would extend pass laws to Black women.
The women carried petitions containing approximately 100,000 signatures and staged a silent protest at the seat of apartheid government.
Ramaphosa said the silence of the protesters represented courage rather than fear or submission.
“But theirs was not the silence of fear. It was not the silence of submission. It was the silence of courage gathering its strength. It was the silence of women who knew that they carried the justice of their cause within them.
“For thirty minutes, there was no chant, no speech and no cry. Yet their silence said everything that needed to be said. The Union Buildings may have been quiet, but the conscience of a nation was being awakened,” the President said.
The President also paid tribute to the four women who led the march: Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie de Bruyn.
He emphasised that the four leaders were supported by thousands of other women whose contributions also deserve recognition.
Campaign Seeks To Record Stories Of 1956 Women's March
Ramaphosa welcomed the "Write Her into History" campaign, led by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Sophia and Henry De Bruyn Legacy Foundation.
The campaign aims to identify and document the names and stories of women who participated in the historic 1956 protest.
“We know the names of some, but we do not yet have the names of all of them. We therefore welcome the work of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Sophia and Henry De Bruyn Legacy Foundation through the “Write Her into History” campaign.
“Through the campaign...you are restoring the names and stories of the women of 1956 to our national memory. I call on every family and everyone who knew anyone of those women who marched, who took part in that march to come forward and present their story to these two foundations so that we can complete the roll call of courage and honour,” President Ramaphosa said.
South Africa Has Made Progress In Women's Empowerment
The President also reflected on progress made since the establishment of democracy in 1994.
Women now occupy some of the country's highest political and public offices, including positions as Ministers and Deputy Ministers, as well as the offices of Chief Justice, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Public Protector and Auditor-General.
Ramaphosa said these achievements were the result of generations of struggle and must be protected.
“These gains matter. They were fought for. They must be defended.
“South Africa ranks highly on global indices...for women’s empowerment, including for gender parity, educational outcomes, financial inclusion, and political representation and decision-making. We are proud of how far we have come. We are proud to stand on the shoulders of giants, of the imbokodo of 1956,” President Ramaphosa said.
Gender-Based Violence Remains A Major Challenge
Despite progress in women's empowerment, Ramaphosa acknowledged that significant challenges remain, particularly gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The government has classified GBVF as a national disaster, allowing the state to mobilise resources and capabilities to address the crisis.
“In 1956, the women of our country lived in fear of being arrested for not having a pass. Today, women live in fear of the gender-based violence that continues to stalk them in the streets of our country, in the pathways of our villages and in their homes.
“That is why we classified [GBVF] as a national disaster. We did so, so that we could harness all the resources and capabilities of the state to end these crimes. [GBVF] is not a women’s problem. It is a problem of society. It is a problem of violent men,” he emphasised.
The President called on men and boys to actively participate in efforts to prevent violence against women.
“We must prevent this violence, as we are doing, by working with young men, with the support of traditional, community and religious leaders. We need to steer men away from behaviours as well as mindsets that breed violence against women.
“We need to break the silence that renders us complicit in this crime. It is not only the perpetrators of such acts that are guilty. It is also when we choose to look away,” the President insisted.
President Calls For A Future Built On Equality
Looking ahead, Ramaphosa urged South Africans to honour the legacy of the women of 1956 by continuing to work towards the society they envisioned.
“We commit to build a South Africa in which no woman’s potential is limited by poverty, prejudice, violence or discrimination. We will build a nation in which women are equal in law, equal in opportunity, equal in safety and equal in power.
“The women of South Africa have shaped our freedom, and we thank them. Together, we will shape our future,” he said.
Sophie De Bruyn Calls On Young Women To Continue The Struggle
Meanwhile, Sophie de Bruyn, one of the four women who led the 1956 Women's March, called on a new generation of women to confront the challenges facing South Africa today.
These challenges include gender-based violence, corruption and inequality.
De Bruyn reflected on the courage displayed by the women who marched in 1956, saying they confronted the apartheid government despite the risks involved.
“The joy of that solidarity, the triumph of knowing that we could break the back of oppression is a fire that still burns deep within me even today,” she said.
The 70th anniversary commemoration serves as a reminder of the historic role played by South African women in the struggle for democracy, while highlighting the need to continue advancing gender equality, women's empowerment and safety.
