It was the march in 1956 where about 20,000 womxn marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Courageous and outraged womxn from all ethnic groups marched in protest against the pass laws which restricted travel arrangements for black people and apartheid in general. They risked arrest to advance change.
With womxn constituting the majority of our society in South Africa it still remains mind boggling how slow the process is regarding addressing economic empowerment, eradicating gender-based violence and eliminating the gaps for equality.
We stand on the shoulders of brave womxn, as we struggle towards the full realisation of equality for all. We celebrate the big and small efforts of womxn in our communities, who against great odds, remain positive, build homes, feed their families and continue to walk the slow long walk to freedom and equality. We draw courage and strength from our contemporary womxn heroines – here are wise words from just a few:
Zanele Muholi – “ If I wait for someone else to validate my existence it will mean that I’m short-changing myself.”
Thuli Madonsela – “I need to listen well so that I hear what is not said.”
Helen Suzman – “I stand for simple justice, equal opportunity and human rights. The indispensable elements in a democratic society – and well worth fighting for.”
Mamphela Ramphela – “South Africa does not have a poverty problem. Poverty is a result of denialism of the way corruption taxes poor people, the inefficiencies that undermine poor people's opportunities and our refusal to admit that we are part of the problem.”
Caster Semenya – “I am a fighter. I never give up.”
We salute and celebrate all womxn as the struggle continues!