SA celebrates Women's Day

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Pretoria - August 9 is a day set aside to honour the vibrant spirit of the country's women, and there are plenty of activities lined up for everyone to participate in to celebrate the momentous day.

In Ekurhuleni, a 6-km fun walk will be held at Sam Ntuli Stadium in Thokoza. The walk will be used to remember the bravery of the 1956 women who marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act, commonly known as the pass laws.

It will also be an opportunity to cast light on the scourge of woman and child abuse in the country.

Over 2 000 community members, including residents of old age homes, are expected to join in. The walk will be followed by an aerobics session.

Women in the capital city, Pretoria, will be treated to celebrations at the Union Buildings.
A line-up of artists, including gospel superstar Rebecca Malope, DJ Lady DK, Masibesonke and Hlalavuka will keep the crowds entertained before Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa address the gathering.

In the Western Cape, the 6th annual Women's Day event will be staged at 7pm at the Lentegeur Civic Centre in Mitchells Plain.

The theme for this year is, 'A touch of pink - A tribute to cancer patients and survivors'. The event aims to commemorate these brave women and the people in their lives who support them.

Councillor Natalie Bent will honour cancer survivors from the Mitchells Plain community. Spokesperson and community mobiliser for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Sally Mellish, will be the guest speaker.

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille will address and honour the women of the City's Safety and Security Directorate at a special event at the Bellville Civic Centre.

At its annual Women's Day celebrations, the women of the City's Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, Disaster Risk Management, Fire Services and 107 Emergency Services will be honoured for their dedication and commitment in serving the City of Cape Town.

This year's theme is 'Unmasking the Real You' and it will depict the transition from wearing a uniform and performing their daily tasks, to being a mother, wife and partner outside the workplace.

The City of Cape Town's Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department will host a range of Women's Day activities and events across the city during the month of August. The events include beach walks, fun-runs, a netball tournament, recreational activities and aquatics.

"These events serve as an opportunity for men, women, boys and girls to celebrate and acknowledge Women's Day in a fun and healthy way. While some events are limited to women only, I want to encourage men and boys to participate where they can in order to express solidarity with women and girls.

"Women's Day allows us to highlight women's contribution to our communities as well as their struggle for equality," said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Tandeka Gqada.