Bravery of 1956 pass law protesters remembered
Women joined the Gauteng department of sport, arts, culture and recreation in Tshwane yesterday to renew their stand for women’s emancipation.
The theme was “25 years of democracy: growing South Africa together for women’s emancipation”.
It started with a 2.3km walk from Lilian Ngoyi Square to the Union Buildings, Pretoria.
The day was dedicated to multicultural women who led a march to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956. More than 20 000 women from all walks of life, led by Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Albertina Sisulu, protested against the pass laws.
ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) veteran Gloria Seoketsa, who was part of the 1956 march, shared her personal experience.
“Though I was young, I can say I was also part of the march, my mother was carrying me and I remember the day as if it happened weeks ago,” she said.
She went on to praise the women of 1956 for their bravery.
“It is because of freedom that old women like me can speak English, we are here to appreciate the sacrifices made by women of 1956,” Seoketsa said.
For the Gauteng women’s league, the fight for equality and dignity is not yet over.
Gauteng provincial secretary for the ANCWL Esther Nhlapo said: “We still want young people to join us in fighting for dignity and equality for women, we have a long way to go, this struggle is not yet over, this is why we are happy when young women join our call.”
Gauteng acting premier and executive committee member of education Panyaza Lesufi said: “We are here to declare that because of our women, we are alive today. It was on this day [in 1956] that our women took the stand and said, enough is enough with apartheid laws, in everything that we do, a girl child must be No 1.”