BRIEF HISTORY OF WOMEN'S DAY.
It was the 9th of August 1956, approximately 20 00 South African women from all races marched to the Union buildings in Pretoria to protest against pass laws of 1950. The women left the petition with more than 100 000 signatures at Prime minister J.G Strijdom door expressing their anger and frustrations which regards to the freedom of movement. The march was led by these four women: Helen Joseph, Lillian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De bruyn.
The woman stood in silence for about 30 minutes as a symbol for them to be taken seriously after that they sang protest songs such as " Wathinta abafazi, Wathinta ibhokodo" which means "you strike a women, you strike a rock and since that day this phrase has become important and seen as a symbol of the resilience of South African women and the their sacrifices in apartheid for non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
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WHY DO WE CELEBRATE WOMEN'S DAY?
There are many reasons why we as women of South Africa celebrate this day simply because the women of 1956 that petitioned against pass laws.
We celebrate women's day because:
- We commemorate the women of 1956 who marched.
- We honouring all the women of South Africa
- We keeping the spirit of "you strike a woman, you strike a rock" alive.
On the eve of Women’s Day, women will hold a night vigil in memory of the 1956 March and in honour of the women who contributed to the attainment of freedom in our country. An interdenominational prayer and worship will be held in memory of all the heroines and women veterans who took part in the march.
If you want to go celebrate women's day there would be a night vigil at the City Hall in Tswane from the 8th at 18:00pm to the 9th at 06:oo am.
