{"id":20958,"date":"2025-08-06T18:05:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T16:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=20958"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:05:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:05:25","slug":"womens-day-history-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/womens-day-history-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"The History of Women\u2019s Day in South Africa: Why It Still Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-the-origin-of-women-s-day-a-legacy-of-courage\" data-level=\"2\">The Origin of Women\u2019s Day: A Legacy of Courage<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-apartheid-context-why-the-1956-march-was-groundbreaking\" data-level=\"2\">Apartheid Context: Why the 1956 March Was Groundbreaking<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-from-protest-to-annual-celebration-recognising-women-s-contributions\" data-level=\"2\">From Protest to Annual Celebration: Recognising Women\u2019s Contributions<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-women-s-day-still-matters-today\" data-level=\"2\">Why Women\u2019s Day Still Matters Today<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-role-of-women-s-day-in-education-and-empowerment\" data-level=\"2\">The Role of Women\u2019s Day in Education and Empowerment<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-key-figures-who-led-the-1956-march\" data-level=\"2\">Key Figures Who Led the 1956 March<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-south-africans-celebrate-women-s-day\" data-level=\"2\">How South Africans Celebrate Women\u2019s Day<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-understanding-its-history-matters\" data-level=\"2\">Why Understanding Its History Matters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-origin-of-women-s-day-a-legacy-of-courage\">The Origin of Women\u2019s Day: A Legacy of Courage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Women\u2019s Day in South Africa honours a pivotal event in the country\u2019s struggle for freedom. On <strong>9 August 1956<\/strong>, over 20,000 women from diverse backgrounds marched to the <strong>Union Buildings<\/strong> in Pretoria. This protest was a powerful stand against the apartheid regime\u2019s <strong>pass laws<\/strong>, which severely restricted the movement of black South Africans, particularly black women. These laws forced women to carry <strong>passbooks<\/strong>. These were humiliating documents that symbolised racial oppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sahistory.org.za\/archive\/womans-day-speak-south-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organised<\/a> by the <strong>Federation of South African Women (<a href=\"https:\/\/minds-africa.org\/forging-freedom-the-empowering-legacy-of-south-african-womens-mobilisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FSAW<\/a>)<\/strong>, the march was led by iconic figures such as <strong>Lillian Ngoyi<\/strong>, <strong>Helen Joseph<\/strong>, <strong>Rahima Moosa<\/strong>, and <strong>Sophia Williams-De Bruyn<\/strong>. Together, they delivered petitions containing over 100,000 signatures demanding the repeal of these oppressive laws. The protest was a non-violent demonstration of unity and strength. For <strong>30 minutes<\/strong>, the women stood in silence before singing a protest song. The song became a lasting anthem: &#8220;<strong>Wathint\u2019 Abafazi, Wathint\u2019 Imbokodo<\/strong>&#8221; \u2014 \u201cYou strike a woman, you strike a rock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-666200145\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-apartheid-context-why-the-1956-march-was-groundbreaking\">Apartheid Context: Why the 1956 March Was Groundbreaking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>pass laws<\/strong> were central to the system of racial segregation during apartheid. Initially enforced only on black men, these laws were extended to women in the early 1950s, imposing severe restrictions on their movement. The 1956 march was groundbreaking because it united women from various racial and cultural backgrounds. They defied an unjust regime, making it one of the largest demonstrations in South Africa\u2019s history. It brought women\u2019s voices into the <a href=\"https:\/\/sahistory.org.za\/article\/1956-womens-march-pretoria-9-august\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">national conversation<\/a>. It also shone a light on their struggle for <strong>gender equality<\/strong> and <strong>racial justice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-from-protest-to-annual-celebration-recognising-women-s-contributions\">From Protest to Annual Celebration: Recognising Women\u2019s Contributions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa officially declared <strong>9 August<\/strong> as <strong>National Women\u2019s Day<\/strong> in <strong>1994<\/strong>. This followed the country\u2019s transition to democracy and the granting of political equality to women. Since then, Women\u2019s Day has become a <strong>public holiday<\/strong> that not only honours the sacrifices of the women who fought for freedom. It also serves as a reflection on women\u2019s roles in <strong>social justice<\/strong>, <strong>gender equality<\/strong>, and <strong>democracy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to National Women\u2019s Day, <strong>August<\/strong> is celebrated as <strong>Women\u2019s Month<\/strong> in South Africa. This expands the commemoration to include broader reflections on the ongoing challenges and achievements of women. The first official Women\u2019s Day was celebrated on <strong>9 August 1995<\/strong>, and important anniversaries, such as the <strong>50th march commemoration in 2006<\/strong>, have been marked by reenactments and events. These honour the contributions of march veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3102358926\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-women-s-day-still-matters-today\">Why Women\u2019s Day Still Matters Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 1956 march remains a cornerstone in the struggle for equality. The issues it highlighted: <strong>gender-based violence<\/strong>, <strong>economic inequality<\/strong>, <strong>discrimination<\/strong>, and <strong>barriers to education and healthcare<\/strong>\u2014are still prevalent today. Women continue to face these challenges. <strong>Women\u2019s Day<\/strong> serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made. It also calls attention to the work needed to achieve true gender equality in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The enduring significance of the phrase &#8220;<strong>You strike a woman, you strike a rock<\/strong>&#8221; embodies the strength, resilience, and determination of women in South Africa. It continues to inspire advocacy for the protection and promotion of women\u2019s rights in all spheres of society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-role-of-women-s-day-in-education-and-empowerment\">The Role of Women\u2019s Day in Education and Empowerment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond being a day of reflection, <strong>Women\u2019s Day<\/strong> is also a platform for promoting education, awareness, and empowerment. Events on this day typically include <strong>public discussions<\/strong>, <strong>educational campaigns<\/strong>, and initiatives aimed at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Raising awareness of <strong>gender issues<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouraging <strong>political participation<\/strong> among women,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Highlighting the importance of <strong>eradicating violence against women<\/strong>, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supporting <strong>economic opportunities<\/strong> for women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By fostering these conversations and initiatives, Women\u2019s Day plays a vital role in <strong>empowering women<\/strong> and <strong>girls<\/strong> across the country. It ensures that their voices are heard and their needs addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1466819768\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-figures-who-led-the-1956-march\">Key Figures Who Led the 1956 March<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>women\u2019s march<\/strong> of 1956 was organised by the <strong>Federation of South African Women (<a href=\"https:\/\/sahistory.org.za\/article\/federation-south-african-women-fedsaw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FEDSAW<\/a>)<\/strong>. Several influential women played critical roles in making it happen. These figures are celebrated as icons of courage and activism:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sophia Williams-De Bruyn<\/strong>: At just 16 years old, she became the youngest participant in the march and later became a respected political activist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Helen Joseph<\/strong>: A founding member of <strong>FEDSAW<\/strong>, renowned for mobilising women across racial lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lillian Ngoyi<\/strong>: A prominent anti-apartheid activist and the first woman elected to the <strong>African National Congress (ANC)<\/strong> National Executive Committee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rahima Moosa<\/strong>: An advocate for women\u2019s rights and a vocal opponent of apartheid policies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gauteng-image-1754497149.png\" alt=\"Gauteng News Image\" class=\"wp-image-20981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gauteng-image-1754497149.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gauteng-image-1754497149-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gauteng-image-1754497149-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gauteng-image-1754497149-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gauteng-image-1754497149-390x220.png 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sahistory.org.za\/article\/1956-womens-march-pretoria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South African History Online<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These women and others like them laid the foundation for today\u2019s ongoing struggle for women\u2019s equality. Their leadership continues to inspire future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-south-africans-celebrate-women-s-day\">How South Africans Celebrate Women\u2019s Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year on <strong>9 August<\/strong>, South Africans come together to celebrate <strong>Women\u2019s Day<\/strong>. Activities include <strong>cultural events<\/strong>, <strong>marches<\/strong>, <strong>educational programmes<\/strong>, and <strong>government-led activities<\/strong>. Schools, media outlets, and communities use this day to highlight the contributions of women to society. They also acknowledge the challenges women face. The day reinforces national unity. It highlights the importance of women\u2019s leadership in creating a just, inclusive society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Women\u2019s Day is not just a <strong>public holiday<\/strong>; it is a tribute to the courage, resilience, and ongoing fight for equality that continues to shape South Africa\u2019s path forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Want to learn who\u2019s leading change in communities and business across the province?<\/em> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/women-in-gauteng-meet-3-ladies\/\">Women in Gauteng: Meet the Top\u202f3 Ladies Making an Impact<\/a><\/strong>. <em>Tap to meet these inspiring trailblazers and see what makes them stand out.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-339248309\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-understanding-its-history-matters\">Why Understanding Its History Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Women\u2019s Day in South Africa honours the countless women who <a href=\"https:\/\/africantravelcanvas.com\/experiences\/history-and-politics\/the-history-of-national-womens-day-and-how-you-can-celebrate-this-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fought tirelessly<\/a> for a better future and made <strong>significant sacrifices<\/strong> in the struggle for equality and justice. It also challenges us to continue the fight for gender equality and social justice. Reflecting on the <strong>history<\/strong> of Women\u2019s Day helps us understand that empowering women is not just about <strong>celebrating achievements<\/strong> but also about <strong>acknowledging the struggles<\/strong>. It is about pushing for a future where every woman has the opportunity to succeed, thrive, and live free from violence and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding its history and relevance today reinforces the importance of women\u2019s <strong>empowerment<\/strong> as a crucial part of building an <strong>inclusive society<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"This is why South Africa celebrates Women&#039;s Day twice a year - BBC Africa\" width=\"755\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZIPk-yhYuvA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZIPk-yhYuvA?si=7v8zfv2h1Vd4G4mf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about the history of South Africa\u2019s Women\u2019s Day, originating from the 1956 women&#8217;s march against apartheid pass laws, and why this day remains significant today for gender equality and social justice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":20969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Learn about the history of South Africa\u2019s Women\u2019s Day, originating from the 1956 women's march against apartheid pass laws, and why this day remains significant today for gender equality and social justice.","footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[8455,5799,9837,8969,86,9987,9952,10533],"class_list":{"0":"post-20958","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-events","8":"tag-gender-equality","9":"tag-human-rights","10":"tag-protest","11":"tag-social-justice","12":"tag-south-african-history","13":"tag-union-buildings","14":"tag-womens-month","15":"tag-womens-day"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20958"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20982,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20958\/revisions\/20982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}