Sophie inspires eternally
Celebrate brave, dignified leaders of the 1956 Women’s March, and emulate their example
EVERY year we celebrate the 1956 Women’s March of August 9.
It is a date many of us mark down in our diaries for networking breakfasts or an event set to be inspired by high-flying speakers. That is what Women’s Month is being defined as.
We hear the names of Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophia de Bruyn (fondly known as Aunt Sophie) bandied about. But as a millennial, there isn’t much substance to Women’s Day, nor do we tackle our many issues head-on. We often leave it for the 16 Days of Activism in December.
A few years ago, being part of the Ahmed Kathrada Youth Programme, I was granted the opportunity to listen in awe to Aunt Sophie, who was at the forefront of the 1956 March, when she glamorously walked in, but humbly and eloquently addressed us.
To hear it first-hand, trust me, you would forever be inspired. That Saturday morning in Newtown, Joburg, is etched in my mind.
Aunt Sophie recounted the march, telling the youth how activism was not easy in those days, with the lack of technology. How she walked over 20km every day to prepare for the march, that resources were few and many sold vetkoek.
She recalled: “We didn’t turn bins over, we didn’t burn anything. We walked and protested, silently and with dignity; we were all disciplined”.
I was a tad rough around the edges, with no ability to network back then, and did not approach Aunt Sophie.
I admired her from afar, but those words never left me.
When I trained upcoming young health activists on the continent, I would often relate that story to them.
Even though I was invited to facilitate graveyard visits of the 1956 women leaders, which was out of my comfort zone then, I have finally begun to master the art of conversation.
I wanted to meet Aunt Sophie again, and to get to know her, as these opportunities rarely come around again. We went on an old white bus to Avalon cemetery in the south of Joburg. One participant described it as an excursion. I was still confused as to why Helen Joseph and Lillian Ngoyi had a shared tombstone.
Someone else asked if they were buried on top of each other, and I was still confused after that question.
After searching online, one realises how scattered information is on these inspirational women in our country.
I began the visit pointing out that Ma Lillian Ngoyi was the firstever woman appointed to the ANC’s national executive committee. She was a seamstress and struggled for a living. She became known for handing over the thousands of petitions to Prime Minister JG Strijdom at the 1956 March.
Aunt Sophie shared that the three colours of the ANC we see today were Ma Lillian’s creations.
Elinor Sisulu, the daughter-in-law of the late Albertina Sisulu, came forward and shared that Helen wanted to be buried with Lillian, and had made those arrangements prior to her death.
This was something I didn’t know, and I remarked what an excellent example it was against the regime, and that the grave symbolised nonracialism and unity.
Helen Joseph read out clauses of the Freedom Charter as well. She survived various assassination attempts, including bullets through her bedroom window and a bomb at her gate.
It’s now a rare occurrence to come across leaders who speak with wisdom, vision and unity.
When a person of Aunt Sophie’s stature speaks, her words stand the test of time. I quote Aunt Sophie as she delivered her address at Constitutional Hill, and at the various grave sites of iconic women: “Today there is no progress in bringing races together…
“We are more apart now than ever. I never thought the day would come, so I approached leaders in this city (Johannesburg) and said I never thought I would see a day where I would be called a minority in this country again.
“I heard an encounter recently where young people in our country thought whites should go back to Europe, Indians back to India and, because they could not define Coloured people, they weren’t quite sure where to send us.
“August 9 cannot be celebrated with extravagant things, no banquets either… We need to change our mindsets and do things in hospitals and schools. Nowadays this celebration is not what we, the 1956 generation, were about. Setting a foundation is good, but leading by example is what we need. We never called ourselves leaders, not like you hear today. We were servants of the people.”
I felt emotional as I thanked Aunt Sophie for sharing these words, words which need to be amplified in every part of the globe where hatred and greed are flourishing at the expense of humanity.
Setting a foundation is good, but leading by example is what we need Sophia de Bruyn 1956 WOMEN’S MARCH LEADER