The 1956 Women’s march to the Union Buildings
On 9 August 1956 one of the most historic events in the struggle for freedom and women’s rights in South Africa, took place right here in Pretoria. It was on this day that more than 20 000 women of different races marched to the Union Buildings to deliver petitions to the then-Prime Minister, JG Strijdom, against the carrying of passes by women.
By Charl Steenkamp
…We are women from every part of South Africa.
We are women of every race, we come from the cities and the towns, from the reserves and the villages.
We come as women united in our purpose to save the African women from the degradation of passes…
In the name of women of South Africa, we say to you, each one of us, African, European, Indian, Coloured, that we are opposed to the pass system. We voters and voteless, call upon your Government not to issue passes to African women.
We shall not rest until ALL pass laws and all forms of permits restricting our freedom have been abolished.
We shall not rest until we have won for our children their fundamental rights of freedom, justice, and security.
– Taken from a Petition presented to the Prime Minister on 9 August 1956.
The march was organised by the Federation of South African Women (FSAW) and was let by four remarkable women: Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams De Bruyn.
Through the introduction of the passes for African women, the apartheid government restricted their movement and designated specific areas to live, work and travel. They were required to carry and produce their “pass” at all times.
Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom was not at the Union Buildings to receive the petition and the pass laws were only repealed 30 years later in 1986. However, the event was a definite turning point in the role of women in the struggle towards a non-racial and non-sexist South Africa. It also challenged the idea that ‘a woman’s place is in the kitchen’ and made it clear that women would not be silenced by unjust laws. The women concluded their demonstration by singing freedom songs, including the now infamous:
“When you strike a woman, you strike a rock”
Since 1994, 9 August is celebrated as National Women’s Day in South Africa and is a public holiday.
Memorials and monuments in Pretoria honouring the march
Women’s memorial at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre – Union Buildings
On 9 August 2000 President Thabo Mbeki unveiled this memorial (pictured left), which consists of a grinding stone mounted on metal, symbolising the power of women. The memorial was erected at the top of the amphitheatre in a vestibule between the east and west wings.
The steps leading up to the memorial have been inscribed with gold lettering reflecting extracts from the petition the women handed over to Prime Minister J G Strijdom.
It reads in part:
“We come from the cities and the towns, from the reserves and from the villages as women united in our purpose to free the African women from the degradation of passes.”
Street Names
The City of Tshwane renamed some of it’s streets in early 2012 to reflect a “shared heritage”. Among the changes are the streets named some of the prominent women that took part in the march:
- Helen Joseph Street (formerly Church Street, from Nelson Mandela Drive to Church Square)
- Francis Baard Street (formerly Schoeman Street)
- Lilian Ngoyi Street (formerly Van der Walt Street)
- Sophie de Bruyn Street (formerly Schubart Street)
Lilian Ngoyi Square – Pretoria Central
At the intersection of Lilian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph Street is what is known as Lilian Ngoyi Square. The square was renamed from Strijdom Square to Lilian Ngoyi Square on the 50th anniversary of the 1956 march: 9 August 2006. Lilian Ngoyi was not only a prominent figure in the 1956 march but also a leader of the Women’s League of the African National Congress.
The square is currently undergoing major reconstruction which will include a new national heritage site, Women’s Living Heritage Monument. It will consist of an interpretive centre, narrative space, while also providing space for formal and informal training for women.
Related articles:
- The Union Buildings
- Freedom Park
- Pretoria’s new street names
- Pretoria’s must-see museums
- Following Mandela’s footsteps across Pretoria