By Naseerah Nanabhai
03:09:2021

On the 9th of August 1956, approximately 20,000 women marched to Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the extension of pass laws to females.

The laws required black South Africans to carry an internal passport, which aimed to preserve population separation, manage urbanisation, and control migrant labour during the apartheid era.

The march was organised by The Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) and was led by four remarkable women; Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Sophy Williams and Lilian Ngoyi.

The leaders delivered petitions to the Prime Minister’s office inside the Union Buildings. Women across the country had signed these petitions to demonstrate their anger and frustration at having their freedom of movement restricted by official passes.

As we celebrate women’s month this year, we pay tribute to these brave women. This year, women’s month is marked under the theme: “Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”. The concept of Generation Equality is a global campaign and links South Africa to international efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030.

This theme is influenced by the numerous challenges African women still face today, such as domestic violence, unequal pay, harassment and education for all girls. Celebrating women’s day under this theme is an effort to accelerate gender parity.

Since establishing this public holiday in South Africa, there have been many advances in gender equality, such as a more extensive representation of women in parliament and more opportunities for women all-round.

National Women’s Day is based around much of the same principles as International Women’s Day and strives for much of the same freedoms and rights. As South Africans, we should never forget the brave women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.