The quote, “you strike a woman, you strike a rock,” might date back to 9 August 1956 in South Africa’s history, but it’s a phrase that continues to inspire and strengthen South African women from all walks of life. Every August is Women’s Month in South Africa, with the 9th of August being celebrated at National Women’s Day.
It’s a day that celebrates the resilience and strength of South African women and the contribution they made to society and the country. It’s also a powerful day for equal rights. South Africans pay tribute to the generations of women whose struggles laid the foundations for equal rights every year in August, but what is the significance of National Women’s Day? Read on to find out!
The Importance of National Women’s Day, South Africa
South Africa’s National Women’s Day is a public holiday commemorating the 1956 march of some 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The petition, containing more than 100,000 signatures, aimed to abolish pass laws that required all non-white individuals to carry internal passports. Under South Africa’s apartheid government laws, The Population Registration Act – and subsequent pass laws – aimed to maintain population segregation, control urbanization, and manage migrant labor.
During the protest of 1956, members of the Federation of South African Women (SAFW) rallied against the apartheid government, and thousands of mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends came together to initiate change. But the march did not stop at marching. The women remained standing outside the Union Buildings in silence for 30 minutes as a gripping and powerful display of unity.
South Africa’s first National Women’s Day was celebrated on the 9th of August 1995. In 2006, a reenactment of how the women marched marked its 50th anniversary. Festivities to celebrate national women’s day today are still focused on achieving gender equality and fighting other significant issues. And the day still empowers women.
The Struggle of South African Women
In 1954, the Federation of South African Women was established at the Union Buildings by Amina Cachalia, Lillian Ngoyi, Ray Simons, and Helen Joseph. The objective of the SAFW was to bring all SA women, regardless of race, together. The aim? To secure equal opportunity for all. They fought for gender equality and to remove social, legal, and economic disabilities that discriminated against women and children.
At the Federation’s first conference, they wrote the Women’s Charter. It called for equal opportunities in employment, pay, property ownership, and marriage. They also fought for paid maternity leave, childcare allowances for working mothers, and free education for South African children. The first National Women’s Day was a remarkable day in the calendar of the South African Government. Decades later, this public holiday still focuses on empowering women and fighting population segregation.
Women’s Month Festivities Represent Women’s Courage
Today, National Women’s Day in South Africa focuses on important issues that black women still face today. Domestic violence, discrimination and harassment in the workplace, equal pay, and education are still significant and ongoing problems.
August is a month when South Africans commemorate the iconic women that fought against apartheid. But it is also a time to empower, honor, and celebrate the strength and beauty of SA women.
Celebrating Gender Equality and the Women of South Africa Across the World
South Africa’s National Women’s Day is based around similar principles as International Women’s Day. Of course, the international festivities are on the 8th of March every year. National women’s day also strives for much of the same freedoms and rights.
Here at Day Translations, we’re deeply passionate about all things language and culture, and to help celebrate South Africa’s cultural diversity, we’d like to pay special tribute to the women who helped shape South Africa’s rainbow nation. The strength it took to rise against unfair legislation in an apartheid society is what made these women true heroes. And it is in their strength that future generations of SA women will continue to find their inspiration.