South Africa 1956 Women's March Against Pass Laws
The Story of South Africa: Empire, Apartheid, and Transformation — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
On August 9, 1956, 20,000 women from all racial backgrounds marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the extension of pass laws to women. Organized by the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), the protest was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams. They delivered petitions to Prime Minister Strijdom's office, then stood in a silent half-hour before singing freedom songs, including the iconic 'Wathint' Abafazi Wathint' Imbokodo' (You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock). This episode explores the grassroots organizing, the diverse coalition of African, coloured, Indian, and white women, the government's response, and the lasting legacy that made August 9th South Africa's National Women's Day. We delve into the courage of ordinary women who defied apartheid's restrictions and turned a single protest into a symbol of feminist anti-apartheid resistance. #SouthAfrica #Apartheid #WomensMarch #1956 #LilianNgoyi #HelenJoseph #RahimaMoosa #SophieWilliams #FEDSAW #PassLaws #UnionBuildings #Pretoria #WathintAbafazi #Imbokodo #AntiApartheid #WomenResistance #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
