In 1956 on August 9, over 20 000 women from all over South Africa, crossing the racial divide, marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act of 1950 which would require them to carry an identity pass. Tanja Bencun takes a closer look into this historic day 55 years ago to better understand how a united voice stood up for freedom and what it means for women of today. Women were not included in the Pass Law passed in 1923, which required black men to carry a pass when going into the city. Under the banner of the Federation of South African Women, a march was organised that challenged the idea that ‘a women’s place is in the kitchen’, declaring it instead to be everywhere’. Led by Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophia Williams and Rahima Moosa, the women marched.
Although the Prime Minister at the time, JG Strijdom, was not at the Union Buildings to accept the petitions, the women sent out a public message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by unjust laws. After the petitions, which were signed by more than 100 000 women, were handed over to the Secretary of the Prime Minister, the women sang a Zulu freedom song: Wathint` abafazi, Strijdom!
The petition described how the pass laws had brought “untold suffering to every African family”. Unfortunately the march and petitions did not change the mind of the apartheid government and black women were finally forced to also carry the passes in 1958. Something they had to do until the law was repealed in 1986. Heroic failure
A Wits historian, Clive Glaser, says this march is a heroic story, but of failed resistance. “Heroic in its achievement in mobilisation, but, in fact, it’s at the point where the State is becoming increasingly powerful and confident in repressing resistance…and really all the glorious resistance in the 50s leads nowhere – politically.”
He says that the march was significant in that you had this mass gathering and coming together of women, but it was an unsuccessful protest as the pass law was extended to include women in 1958. As for the 60s, this was a time of political quiet. There was massive State clampdown, political movements and trade unions were banned. It was also during this time that there was an economic boom, and although wages were low, there was virtually full employment. This could explain why there was no political change in this era and as Glaser notes, the reason for “lowered levels of anger”. In the 70s Glaser says the economy started to decline. “The systems of townships deteriorated, becoming much more oppressive, and you also had the rise of black consciousness…the younger generation of the 1970s was angry with their parents for being so passive.” Therefore a combination of hard living conditions and new ideas started to circulate.
Heroic in its achievement in mobilisation, but, in fact, it’s at the point where the State is becoming increasingly powerful and confident in repressing resistance…and really all the glorious resistance in the 50s leads nowhere – politically
History celebrated August 9 has come to represent a celebration of women where we come together further advance women’s struggle for empowerment and full equality and to this day this march in 1956 remains the biggest gathering of women held in South Africa. Even though passes, or dompas (stupid pass) as they were commonly referred to, are a thing of the past – it is important to remember and salute those who had their part to play in its eventual demise. So each year on August 9, in the memory of the 1956 mass anti-pass demonstration, we honour our women and the history of women’s resistance in South Africa. Wathint` abafazi, Strijdom!
Wathint` imbokodo uzo kufa!
Now you have touched the women, Strijdom!
You have struck a rock! (you have dislodged a boulder)
You will be crushed!
– By Tanja Bencun
