Pretoria - Thousands of people from across the length and breadth of Gauteng are expected to take part in a march from Church Square to the Union Buildings to mark Women’s Day tomorrow.
Participants will walk in commemoration of the 66th anniversary of the Women’s March, which saw 20 000 women walk to the Union Buildings in protest against the pass laws on August 9, 1956.
Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Faith Mazibuko announced the provincial event during the launch of Women’s Month at the Mabopane Indoor Sports Complex on Saturday.
She said marchers would on the day deliver a petition to Gauteng Premier David Makhura in remembrance of the historic event.
During her impromptu public address, she reminisced about the harsh impact of apartheid on women. “As women we didn’t have rights. Everything had to be done through a man,” she said.
According to her, the oppression of women was still witnessed even during the democratic era.
“Patriarchy is a problem in this country. When you see men gang-raping women, that tells you that there is something wrong here.
“So we as women must stand up and fight and ensure that the dignity and rights of women are restored,” Mazibuko said.
She said tomorrow’s march would be used to send a message to the judiciary not to be lenient on perpetrators of gender-based violence.
The launch coincided with a memorial lecture of an anti-apartheid activist Frances Baard, who was commemorated for her role during the 1956 march.
She was hailed for her bravery and commitment to fighting for social justice as one of the women who led the march against pass laws. She died in 1997.
Pretoria News