Thousands of people gathered at the Union Buildings yesterday to celebrate National Women’s Day, paying tribute to the 20 000 women who marched against apartheid pass laws in 1956.
While the event marked historic progress and celebrated female leaders, speakers focused heavily on the deep challenges women still face today, including gender-based violence (GBV), poverty, and corruption.
Struggle veteran Sophie de Bruyn, the last surviving leader of the historic 1956 march, recalled standing on the same grounds as an 18-year-old.
She shared her heartbreak over the ongoing struggles of women across the country.
“Every day, as I look at our beautiful country, my heart is heavy,” De Bruyn said. “We fought to banish oppression, yet today our women are prisoners in their own homes. Gender-based violence continues to cast a dark cloud on our society.”
She said corruption, homelessness, and poverty continue to rob people of the freedom they fought to achieve.
President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the courage of the 1956 leaders and highlighted their 30-minute silent protest, which challenged both racial and gender discrimination.
He pointed out the progress made over the years, saying that women now serve as Chief Justice, Cabinet Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly, and leading officers in the police and military.
“That march helped to change the course, the character and the leadership of the struggle for freedom and justice in our country,” Ramaphosa said.
“It demonstrated that women were not merely supporters of our struggle. They were its leaders, its organisers, and they were its authors”.
He urged families to join the Write Her Into Story campaign to ensure every woman who marched in 1956 is remembered.
Representing the legacy of the struggle heroes, the daughter of the late Lillian Diedericks also spoke at the event, honouring the brave women who risked everything so future generations could live in freedom.
The event ended with a strong call to action, reminding all South Africans that true freedom will only be reached when every woman is safe, respected, and economically secure.
