Women’s Day in South Africa 2024: Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy Towards Women Development
Every year, August 9th marks a significant day in South Africa’s history, a day that honors the courageous women who marched against apartheid in 1956. As a result of their heroic act, the South African government decided that August would become the official month to celebrate their National Women’s Month every year.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy Towards Women’s Development” marks the 68th anniversary of a pivotal moment in South African women’s history. As such, the South African government has promised to use the Women’s Month campaign to “take stock of progress made on socio-economic empowerment of women since the advent of democracy and indicate the achievements of the Women Charter.”
This short article highlights all you need to know about Women’s Day celebrations in South Africa. Keep reading to learn more!
When is Women’s Day in South Africa?
Women’s Day is a national public holiday in South Africa that is celebrated on the 9th of August every year. On this day, schools and businesses are closed in honour and celebration of the strength and resilience of the 20,000 South African women’s 1956 march against Apartheid in Pretoria.
The 1956 Women’s March in Pretoria
The 1956 Women’s March in Pretoria was a pivotal event in South Africa’s history, where thousands of women from various racial and ethnic backgrounds united to protest against the apartheid government’s oppressive policies.
On August 9, 1956, an estimated 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the seat of government, to deliver a petition to the then Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom, against the extension of the “Apartheid Pass Laws” to women in 1952.
Pass laws were designed to control the movement of black people, restricting their freedom and dignity.
The march was organized by the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), a non-racial organization that brought together women from different backgrounds to fight for their rights. The marchers were led by prominent women leaders, including:
- Lillian Masediba Ngoyi
- Sophia Williams-De Bruyn
- Rahima Moosa
- Helen Joseph
- Albertina Sisulu
The march was a powerful display of women’s resistance against apartheid, and it marked a turning point in the fight for women’s rights and equality in South Africa. The event became known as the “Women’s March” or “The March of the Women.”
The marchers faced police brutality and arrests, but their courage and determination helped to galvanize the anti-apartheid movement. The event also highlighted the critical role that women played in the struggle for freedom and equality in South Africa.
Why Should We Celebrate Women’s Day in South Africa?
Women’s Day commemorates the struggles and triumphs of black women and women of color, not just in South Africa, but all over the world.
We celebrate Women’s Day in South Africa because it takes courage to fight against oppression and if we don’t celebrate events like these in honour of heroes’ past, the future generations will never know the legacy handed to them and at what cost it was obtained.
We celebrate the sacrifices made on August 9, 1956, because we are inspired by the lives of the thousands of South African women who chose to not back down in the face of danger, discrimination, and even death.
They fought against racism, classism, and other forms of oppression and we need to be continually reminded so that when instances of any form of oppression come up in our daily lives, we can stand up to it and refuse to remain crippled against unjust behavior.
Their lives are worth celebrating every day, we only choose to pick a day to mark it.
Conclusion
Today, August 9th is celebrated as Women’s Day in South Africa, a national holiday that honors the bravery and resilience of the women who marched in 1956 and continues to inspire future generations of women to fight for their rights and equality.
Happy Women’s Day, South Africa! May your collective efforts forge a brighter future for generations to come!
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