Credit: South African History Online, 1956 August 9 Women’s march led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams.
This article serves to honour these women that were courageous enough to
battle an unfair and ungodly governance!
National Women’s Day on the 9 August is a day not only of honour and recognition, but of hope and victory! Unity is strength!
When 20 000 women marched on 9 August 1956 to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, they had one mission in mind. Freedom! The Urban Areas Act of 1950, commonly referred to as “pass laws”, required South Africans defined as black under the Population Registration Act to carry a passport, known as a “pass” that served to maintain segregation laws, and to manage migrant labour during the apartheid era. The march served to oppose an unjust and un-Godly law, stripping men of their freedom and dignity which restricted them movement. The March was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams. The women left 14 000 petitions at the doors of the then prime minister J.G. Strijdom, opposing this act.
History records that these women stood still for 30 minutes, and then they sang songs of freedom, one being the famous:
“Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’imbokodo” ( When you strike the women, you strike a rock)
The plan of the enemy is to bring man to his lowest, to strip him of his dignity, to leave him without a soul. The enemy is subtle, he uses people of authority in high places, greed for money and power has become the tool for success. Those who have in abundance keep on. The bible clearly states (Ephesian 6:12) that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and rulers in dark places.” Yes, the enemy will make man grieve over his past that will surely make him miss out on his future!
20 000 strong women brought a strong government to standstill! What an awesome and unforgettable heritage we have in South Africa, women who knew that their destiny needed to be changed.
How about us women today?
How about we stand together in unity and strength and say to the devil, enough is enough,
Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’imbokodo, uza kufa!
( When you strike the women, you strike a rock, you will be crushed)
devil you ain’t seen nothing yet!
How about we start in our homes, in schools, in work places, we gather together as women, we start chain prayers, let us gather together and start praying for each other, our families, our country that needs these prayers, let’s be a strong force that look the enemy in the face and say :
“Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’imbokodo, uza kufa!
( When you strike the women, you strike a rock, you will be crushed)
The bible says that when the Israelites prayed, God heard and delivered them. Ladies this is my challenge to you, let us do what these brave women have done, let us hold hands in unity and pray together to change our destiny.
Let us be brave enough to stand up against injustice and pray for our land to be healed! Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams and to all the brave women who took on the task to eradicate injustice, we salute you and remember you.
You are true heroes and mentors.
Blessed women’s month ladies!
Be the difference to make a difference!
