South Africa celebrates Women’s Day today (August 9) in commemoration of the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings.

The march is seen as a turning point in the struggle for the emancipation of women in South Africa.

This video features women from different backgrounds in Cape Town, explaining what Women’s Day means to them as individuals.

Sophia Williams-Du Bruyn, one of the only surviving leaders of the 1956 Women’s March, can be heard saying: “This day reminds us all that women have the power, the tenacity and courage that comes with it to confront challenges of whatever nature, they need to overcome.”

Women’s Day 2019 Feature

On 9 August, South Africa celebrates Women’s Day as a national holiday. The holiday is celebrated in commemoration of the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings (the official seat of government in the Republic of South Africa) by thousands of women, to oppose the introduction of the Apartheid pass laws on black women and to present a petition to then Prime Minister, JG Strijdom. More than 20 000 from all races and all walks of life joined the march from across the country.

Many of the women who led the march, including Sophia Williams-De Bruyn (featured in the video), were present at the Congress of the People, where the Freedom Charter was drawn up in Kliptown in 1955.

The slogan of the 1956 Women’s March was “You strike a woman, you strike a rock”.

The march is seen as a turning point in the struggle for the emancipation of women in South Africa.

This video features women from different backgrounds in Cape Town, explaining what Women’s Day means to them as individuals.

People featured in Video:

00:23 - 00-49 : Sophia Williams-Du Bruyn, one of the only surviving leaders of the 1956 Women’s March.

00:52 - 01:40 : Alouette Davids, winner of Good House Keeping Milady’s Model Search in 2018, who previously worked in a corporate sales environment.

02:00 - 02:44 : Salome Johansen, a well known Cape Town singer who has opened for and performed alongside international artists such as Tevin Campbell and Robin S.

02:59 - 03:46 : Jade Robertson, popularly know as Just Jade on social media, is a Cape Town based fashion and lifestyle blogger, who is also a qualified attorney.

03:47 - 04:23 : Candice Lynn Christians is a former sales and marketing specialist who became a blogger, plus sized model and motivational speaker.

04:44 - 05:19 : Michelle Ford works in the specialised field of corporate governance and empowers women in her community through teaching them the art of belly dancing.

05:19 - 06:12 Vicky Sampson, one of South Africa’s greatest musical artists who originally performed the award winning hit “My African Dream”.