Women to march to Union Buildings

Monday, August 1, 2011

Pretoria - The women of Tshwane are set to march to the Union Buildings on Tuesday in honour of the 1956 women who marched against pass laws.

City of Tshwane Mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, said the march would serve as a way of teaching the youth about the historic 1956 march.

In support of Women's Month, the City has set aside funds to support women's month activities. Ramokgopa said the City had plans to honour women who were at the forefront during the march.

"Women's Day is a national event on the country's calendar and the significance of the day must be galvanised in society," he said.

The 1956 March took place in the City Tshwane on 9 August, where about 20 000 brave women staged a march to the Union Buildings to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act, commonly known as the pass laws of 1950.

The City has since named some of the roads after some women who took part in the march. These include the Ruth First road in Soshanguve.

One of the women who led the 1956 march was Mama Albertina Sisulu, who passed away in June this year. She died at the age of 92.