Women's Day, 9 August

This year's commemoration of Women's Day on 9 August "marks the 61^st anniversary of the Women’s March to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956. On that day up to 20 000 women of all races, class and religious pesuasions protested against the extension of Pass Laws. The march was a turning point in the role of women in the struggle for freedom and our society at large.

The march was coordinated by the Federation of South African Women (Fedsaw) led by four women: Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams De Bruyn. These leaders delivered petitions to the then Prime Minister JG Strijdom’s office in the Union Buildings."