Women’s Month is celebrated annually in South Africa throughout August, with National Women’s Day observed as a public holiday on August 9. The month honors the 1956 march where 20,000 women protested apartheid pass laws. It is a time to highlight women’s rights, empowerment, and ongoing gender equality struggles
Historical Significance & The 1956 March
- The Protest: On August 9, 1956, women of all races from across the country converged on the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Led by iconic activists like Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, they delivered petitions with over 100,000 signatures
The Standoff: After delivering the petitions, the women stood outside the Union Buildings in a powerful, silent protest for 30 minutes
The Anthem: Following the silence, they began singing a protest song that gave birth to the famous slogan: “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo” (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock
How It’s Celebrated Today
While South Africa does recognize International Women’s Day on March 8th globally, August 9th is deeply woven into the local calendar. During Women’s Month, the South African Government and various organizations host campaigns, workshops, and events that celebrate the social, economic, and political achievements of women