National Women's Day in South Africa (9 August): Meaning, Traditions and Celebrations

When is National Women's Day in South Africa?

South Africa has a public holiday every year on August 9th in honor of National Women's Day.

National Women's Day will be a public holiday on the following Monday if it falls on a Sunday.

The Meaning of National Women's Day?

National Women's Day is a time to remember how far we've come in the fight for equal rights for men and women. The day brings attention to the problems women still face. It's a way to talk about women's rights, violence against women, and how important it is to give women more power in all parts of society. The day also recognizes the progress made by women in many areas and calls for more progress to be made toward equal rights for men and women.

The Federation of South African Women was opened in Johannesburg in 1954. It was the first attempt to create a broad-based group for women. Amina Cachalia (on the left), Lillian Ngoyi (second from the left), Ray Simons (second from the right), and Helen Joseph came up with the idea for the group.

The Federation's constitution said that its goals were to bring together all of South Africa's women to make sure that all women, no matter their race, color, or religion, had the same opportunities. It also wanted to get rid of social, legal, and economic barriers for women and work to protect women and children.

Learn more: How Many Special Days for Women In A Year, Including Women's Day

Celebrating National Women’s Day in South Africa

History and Tradition of National Women's Day

National Women's Day owes its roots to the brave actions of women who fought against apartheid and unfair treatment of women.

The holiday honors the national march of women that happened on this day in 1956 to protest a law that said African Americans had to carry a "pass."

During apartheid, the "pass" was a form of identification that limited the freedom of movement for black South Africans. With the pass, they could go into "white" areas. This "pass" was made possible by the Urban Areas Act of 1950, which is also known as the "pass laws."

History of National Women's Day in South Africa

A march of 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9, 1956, was held to protest against changes that were being considered to the act. More than 100,000 people signed petitions and left them at the door of prime minister J.G. Strijdom's office. After 30 minutes of silence, they stood outside his door.

The women then sang a protest song called Wathint'Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo! that was written just for the event. "Now that you've touched the women, you hit a rock."

How is National Women's Day Celebrated?

In South Africa, the phrase has come to mean brave and strong women in the 60 years since the vents in 1956.

National Women's Day became a national holiday for the first time in 1995.

A reenactment of the march was held in 2006 to mark the event's 50th anniversary. Many veterans of the 1956 march were there.

In honor of women, the month of August is now Women's Month. The government holds a trade fair for women's crafts and a symposium on labor issues during this time.

National Women's Day is celebrated all over the country with a wide range of events and activities that support women's rights and equality. Women's issues are talked about at conferences, seminars, and workshops, which also give women a chance to learn and gain power. Cultural festivals and entertainment events show off what women have done and how talented they are. It's time for women to get together, help each other, and set an example for the next generation.

In Conclusion

National Women's Day in South Africa holds significance beyond being a mere public holiday. Today is a day for contemplating the advancements made in attaining gender equality, while also acknowledging the remaining tasks that must be accomplished.

By commemorating the fortitude and tenacity of women, we can motivate constructive transformation and forge an improved future for everyone. Let us persist in acknowledging and enabling women, not only on this particular day, but on a daily basis. Collectively, we can endeavor to create a society in which the opinions and perspectives of every woman are acknowledged and esteemed.

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