South Africa to Mark Women’s Day with Call for Action

South Africa will commemorate Women’s Day tomorrow, Saturday 9 August, honouring the day that 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid pass laws in 1956.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the national event at Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen, Limpopo, under the theme “Building Resilient Economies for All”.

The theme links to South Africa’s G20 Presidency priorities, focusing on women’s economic empowerment, stronger representation in leadership, and the prevention of gender-based violence through education and collaboration.

Women leaders have used the occasion to reflect on progress and persistent challenges. Build One South Africa deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster told a local publication: “The women of 1956 were not just protesting the pass laws… Their march was not just about the pass laws. It was a cry for wholeness.”

EFF National Chairperson, Nontando Nolutshungu, warned that in 2025, “the lived reality of many women still reflects deep inequality, poverty, and vulnerability”, while National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza urged strengthening the women’s movement to continue advocating for equality.

Beyond the ceremony, Women’s Day remains a rallying point for accelerating change, recognising both historic icons and everyday women whose resilience continues to shape South Africa’s future.

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