Women’s Day in South Africa

Did you know that in South Africa, on August 9 1956, 20 000 women staged a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria? Their aim was to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the pass laws) of 1950.

The march was led by Lilian Ngovi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn

They left bundles of petitions containing more than 100 000 signatures at Prime Minister J.G. Strydom’s office door, then outside stood silently for 30 minutes, many with their children on their backs.

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

In the 54 years since, the phrase "you strike a woman, you strike a rock" has come to represent women's courage and strength in South Africa.

Since 1994 Women's Day in South Africa is commemorated annually on August 9th.