National Women’s Day – 9th August 2009

National Women’s Day is an annual public holiday in South Africa on August 9. This commemorates the national march of women on this day in 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the ‘pass’, special identification documents which curtailed an African’s freedom of movement during the apartheid era.

On August 9 in 1956, 20 000 women staged a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the pass laws that required people of colour to carry identity documentation to prove that they were allowed to enter a ‘white’s only’ area) of 1950. They left petitions containing more than 100 000 signatures at the prime minister J.G. Strijdom’s office door. Four women led the march they were Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Sophy Williams and Lilian Ngoyi

They sang freedom songs including the well-known, powerful

‘When you strike a woman, you strike a rock’ ‘Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokodo’

Since 1994 August 9 is commemorated annually and is known as Women’s Day in South Africa. IN 2006 a reenactment of the march was staged for this 50th anniversary, with many of the 1956 march veterans attending.

The Interfaith Women’s Breakfast – 12th August 2009

Women from all walks of life, and different faiths gathered for a breakfast at The Temple of David at Overport. Guest speakers spoke about their experiences and how their faith link with their careers; Christians, Hindu, Bhuddism, Muslim and Jews.

It was interesting listening to the stories shared by these phenomenal women, how they survive all the prejudices of the society especially the minority beliefs.