Women say the commemoration of Women’s Day is important for South Africa

Lerato Mbhiza

Every year on 9 August, South Africans observe a national holiday to commemorate a landmark 1956 march by 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in protest against the apartheid government’s discriminatory including the pass laws.

The historical Women’s March was led by women from all walks of life, from all political parties, trade unions, black, white coloured and Indian women, all marched together to call for an end to discrimination and they sang as they marched to Pretoria  ‘Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo!’ ‘You strike a woman; you strike a rock.

Although democratic South Africa now has a progressive constitution that guarantees gender equality, a surge in female homicide in the first half of this year paints a gory picture on how women’s struggle for emancipation still have a