Bhisho to honour EC’s brave women protesters of 1956
EASTERN Cape women who left the comfort of their homes and boarded trains to join thousands in a protest march against pass laws in Pretoria in August 1956 will be honoured at an event today in Komani (formerly Queenstown).
Provincial social development department spokesman Mzukisi Solani yesterday said government was set to unveil memorial plaques dedicated to some of those brave women who had played a huge role in the famous August 9 1956 women’s march.
The 1956 march was attended by more than 20 000 women from across the country.
Recently thousands of women from all nine provinces travelled to Pretoria to re-enact the 1956 march.
Premier Phumulo Masualle will deliver the keynote address during the provincial event to be held at the town’s Tobi Kula Indoor Sports Centre.
According to provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo, hundreds of people are expected to descend on the Tobi Kula Indoor Sports Centre for the celebration.
Kupelo said the Komani event will precede a three-day Young Women’s Empowerment Camp, which starts later on the day and ends on Sunday.
The camp will be held at the Roydon Nature Reserve in Komani and young women from across the province are expected to attend.
“The camp is the premier’s project, where he is creating a platform for our young women to express their challenges and take resolutions on what needs to happen in order to improve their socio-economic and societal challenges.
“The premier has deviated from the traditional way of celebrating Women’s Day and has now decided on this camp project.
“This is because he feels that as a society we are quick to condemn young women for unwanted pregnancies and other social ills, without taking time to sit down [with them], listen to them and guide them on what drives them to be involved in such things,” said Kupelo.
He added that this would be the premier’s attempt to talk to young women directly in line with moral regeneration.
Social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi said the 60th anniversary of the women’s march in 1956 “offers us a fresh opportunity to reflect on the struggles and achievements of women”.
“There have been quick wins, but a lot
“In government, we have witnessed parity in allocating positions.
“More women are continuing to ascend to critical leadership positions in the private sector.
“But rural women still bear the burden of all the deficit,” said Sihlwayi.
Kupelo said premier Masualle will unveil a monument at Hexagon Square in the middle of Komani’s main street.
“This is to honour provincial women who were part of the march to the Union Building in Pretoria 60 years ago, to demand an end to pass laws.
“The unveiling ceremony will be followed by a march from the memorial to Tobi Kula Indoor Sports Centre where the premier will deliver a keynote address,” Kupelo said. — of work is still outstanding.