During August, South Africa celebrates the inspiring women (past and present) who have fought for women’s rights. MIET AFRICA is proud to highlight that its work has a strong focus on the upliftment of girl children and young women, reducing gender-based violence and other crimes committed against our female population. We strive to ensure equality, particularly when it comes to ensuring the right to education.
“Every year on 9 August we celebrate Women’s Day in South Africa, a public holiday that pays homage to the women of our nation; – the mothers, the wives, the sisters and the daughters who fought tirelessly against the tyranny of the Apartheid government.
“Inaugurated in 1994, along with a free, democratic South Africa, the public holiday commemorates a 1956 protest lead by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. To rise up against the legislation that required black South Africans to carry the “pass” (special identification documents which infringed on their freedom of movement during the Apartheid era), approximately 20 000 women from all over the country took to the streets of Pretoria – many carrying the children of their white bosses on their backs – to stage a peaceful march to the Union Buildings.
“After dropping off bundles of petitions containing more than 100 000 signatures at Prime Minister J.G Strijdom’s offices, they stood in silence for thirty minutes. A song was composed in honour of this momentous occasion, “Wathint’ Abafazi Wathint’ imbokodo!” (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock). An inspiring display of political strength, female solidarity and inner fortitude, the march on August 9 1956 is both a reminder of the great women who helped mould South Africa and the trailblazing women who continue to lead the country forward.” (Extract from the Cape Town Online magazine)
MIET AFRICA salutes all women (and men) who have been part of any struggle to ensure the rights of women and girls are recognized. We invite all of our friends and partners to join hands to ensure that this struggle does not end until the ills that plague women and girls are overcome.