South Africa Marks 70 Years Since Women’s March as Violence Persists
Women say the legacy of the 1956 march is unfinished as a U.N.-backed study found more than one in three have faced violence.
- South Africa commemorates on Sunday 70 years since the Women's March of 1956, when around 20,000 women of all races marched to Pretoria to protest apartheid laws forcing Black women to carry passes that restricted their movement.
- Perched on a ridge overlooking central Johannesburg, the Women's Jail now operates as a museum near the Constitutional Court, honoring thousands of ordinary women whose sacrifices during the era of racist laws went largely unnoticed.
- Seven decades later, many women in South Africa say their fight for freedom remains unfinished as they grapple with high rates of gender-based violence, poverty, and inequality. The United Nations has described these rates as a "national wound."
- Ramnie Dinat, 84, a teenager during the 1956 march, says every generation must "decide whether it will stand up for what is right," while Paralympic champion Kgothatso Montjane notes that financial barriers still limit opportunities for women of color.
- Visitors Services Manager Nolubabalo Memese emphasizes society must use the "bricks of the past to build our future," warning that "once we forget the past, it's very easy for us to make the same mistakes.
35 Articles
35 Articles
This Sunday, August 9, 2026, South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Women's March in Pretoria. In 1956, more than 20,000 South African women from various communities gathered in front of the presidential palace to defy the regime and protest against apartheid laws, particularly the pass system that restricted the movement of Black people. Today, August is recognized as "Women's Month" in the country. But when activists reflect on …
The South African retailer helping women grow their businesses
South Africa’s women are receiving attention this Women’s Day. 70 years after 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings, female entrepreneurs are in the spotlight. One retailer is taking note and helping these founders reach millions. Clicks helps South Africa’s business women Data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) gives context to how women shape South Africa. Nearly half of the country’s households (49.5%) are headed by women. Women ar…
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