20 000 Women march to the Union Buildings in protest of pass laws

In one of the largest demonstrations staged in this country's history, 20 000 women of all races marched to Pretoria's Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to present a petition against the carrying of passes by women to the prime minister, J.G. Strijdom. This famous march is celebrated and commemorated through a national public holiday in South Africa on the 9th of August every year. This is known as National Women's Day and was first celebrated in 1995. The march against the pass laws was organised by the Federation of South African Women (FSAW or FEDSAW). The Federation famously challenged the idea that 'a woman's place is in the kitchen', declaring it instead to be 'everywhere'. Although Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom was not at the Union Buildings to accept the petition, the women of South Africa sent a public message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by unjust laws. After the petition was handed over to the secretary of the prime minister, the women sang a freedom song: Wathint` abafazi, Strijdom! Since then, the phrase 'wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo' (You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock) has come to represent the courage and strength of South African women. As a group that has been marginalised, they challenged the oppressive barriers that governed their lives and fought for their freedom and that of their families'.  Visit our feature 'History of Women's struggle in South Africa' for further information about South African Women's Day.