9 August
The National Women’s Day celebration will be held in Vryburg, Ruth Mompati District in North West under the theme: “25 Years of Democracy: Growing South Africa Together for Women’s Emancipation”.
On 9 August 1956, about 20 000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the discriminatory pass laws which had restricted the movement of black people in the country. This march has been celebrated since 1995 as Women’s Day, to recognise the important and significant role that political activism by women played during the struggle for liberation against colonisation and apartheid.
During the Month of August, a number of activities aimed at creating awareness and promoting understanding of women issues will be held throughout the country.
The national celebrations are all the more significant because the African Union has prioritised women empowerment by declaring 2015 as the “Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa's Agenda 2063.”
