Marking the 55th anniversary of the Women’s Day, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwendoline Ramokgopa will be amongst thousands of women who will march to the Union Buildings, as part of this year’s Women’s Day commemoration.
Thousands of women will converge at Pretoria central, Sammy Marks Square, from where they will commence with their march to the Union Buildings.
The march symbolises the 1956 Women’s march against Strydom. The 9 August 1956 protest by more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings was a powerful statement of opposition to apartheid laws that required Africans to always carry a “dompas” when travelling outside their designated area of residence. Representatives of women of South Africa from all walks of life sent a clear message to the National Party and government that they mean business when they chanted: “Wa thinta abafazi, wa thinta imbokodo!”
Ramokgopa is of the opinion that this annual march to the Union Buildings must always be given the great respect it deserves and be a mandatory activity and pilgrimage. The march should be regarded as a must and part of future country wide celebrations every year.
“Women must be in the forefront of the campaign, for ‘A Long and Healthy life for all South Africans’. We also join women in Africa for declaring 2010 – 2020 the decade for women and this year focusing on the reduction of maternal deaths and promoting reproductive and pregnancy related health“, said the Deputy Minister of Health.
The Gauteng Women’s Day march is scheduled as follows:
Date: 9 August 2011
Time: 09h00 – 09h30
Venue: Tshwane, (March from Corner Vermeulen and Van Der Walt Street to Union Buildings)
For more information, kindly contact:
Mr Vukani Mnyandu
Cell: 083 923 0261
Tel: 012 395 8475
