NATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021.

Every year on the 9th of August, our country marks women’s month. This month commemorates the iconic South African women who fought against the injustices they were facing during Apartheid. Women’s month is also a time where we empower and celebrate the success and achievements of women in South Africa..

THE HISTORY OF NATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

On August 9th 1956, 20,000 women staged a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws that proposed further restrictions on movements of women. The pass laws act required people of colour to carry a ‘pass’ on them at all times. The 'pass' was an identification document which restricted a black South African's freedom of movement under apartheid.

The protest was organized by the Federation of South African Women (Fedsaw), led by four women; Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Sophy Williams and Lilian Ngoyi. The women stood silently for 30 minutes outside J.G Strijdom’s office door. They left petitions containing more than 100,000 signatures indicating their anger and frustration at having their freedom of movement restricted.

To conclude, the women then sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion: Wathint'Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo! (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.).

This day will forever be a remembrance of the bravery of these women who risked arrest and fought for us to be where we are today.

To celebrate National Women’s day, we asked the women at Ikworx to tell us exactly what the day means to them:

“Women’s day to me is about celebrating the success and achievements of women in South Africa. This day gives us a chance to reflect and remember the true women leaders who fought for us to be where we are today.” ~Reneiloe Mokotedi

“Women’s day is about celebrating and honoring the beauty and strength of strong women who fought for us during Apartheid. Their success and achievements should be celebrated because they are also the reason behind our freedom today as South Africans. Wanthin’Abafazi Wanthint’imbokodo!” ~ Getrude Makitla

“Women’s day to me is a day to celebrate, reflect and honour women’s achievements. It is an opportunity to look at the recent improvements and to look forward to a better future.” ~Popie Mahlagu

“Women’s day to me is about remembering the women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956, remembering their fight and how powerful they were, for they paved the road for us to also stand up and fight for what’s right for us as we are also facing our own challenges especially when it comes to gender based violence in South Africa.” ~Nthabiseng Makhubedu

“Women’s day is a day to acknowledge and honour women around the world for the contributions we make each day to society.” ~Roiter Sodi

Let us remember to empower, honour and celebrate the beauty and strength of South African women every day. Happy Women’s Day!