Black women in South Africa are still struggling for equality, but they have come a very long way. A big step forward for our sisters happened on August 9, 1956. In the height of the apartheid era, a national march was organized to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the "pass", special identification documents which curtailed an African's freedom of movement. This ID book was a serious assault on black African dignity and humanity. Each person was identified with a number and could be arrested for not carrying the book. Security forces inspected blacks for their pass everywhere they went.
20,000 women staged a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (the pass laws) of 1950. Outside they stood silently for 30 minutes, many with their children on their backs. Those who were working for whites as nannies were carrying the white babies with them.
The women sang a freedom song: "Wathint' abafazi, Strijdom!"
wathint' abafazi,
wathint' imbokodo,
uza kufa!
[When] you strike the women,
you strike a rock,
you will be crushed!
The phrase wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo has come to represent women's courage and strength in South Africa.
The women of this time showed tremendous courage and spirit to make their voices heard. They have shown us that collectively women are a powerful force. I pray that all women find this kind of courage within themselves when they are faced with great adversity.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers on this special day sisters.
Nomvuyiseko (Mvuyi)
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