PWMSA WOMEN’S DAY COMMEMMORATION IN THE YEAR OF CHARLOTTE MAXEKE

On this day, 09th August 1956, approximately 20 000 courageous women of all races, from all corners of South Africa, embarked on a march to submit a petition addressed to the then South Africa’s Prime Minister Strijdom to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The petition demanded the Prime Minister to abolish the apartheid pass
laws. These unjust laws were meant to restrict free movement of women to all parts of the country. The effects of this would be devastating as women’s employment possibilities would be limited and their families subjected to extreme forms of poverty as men were already affected by the same pass laws.

The march also addressed the narrative that a woman’s place is in the kitchen and argued that women should not be marginalized but should have equal opportunities. The stereotype that women are politically inept and immature was also dismissed as outdated and inaccurate.

The Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa led by the National Convenor Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, commemorates Women’s Day 2021 under the theme:

“The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Realising Women’s Rights”.

According to Professor Mkhize, the use of her name calls for all of us to step up our quest for equality so that at the end of this year we should be able to point out tangible gains we’ve made.

Throughout the entire year, activities we engage in must be perceptible of her life’s work; an artist, a religious leader, a social and political activist, added Mkhize.

In March 2021, Cabinet declared this year as the “Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke”. This was done to honour her on her 150th birthday. Mme Maxeke was a women leader, struggle icon and a woman of courage and fortitude who led women from the front. She was a courageous heroin who faced the colonial regime before our time.

The women of 1956 and other heroines of the women’s struggle, laid a solid foundation to ensure that women’s rights are realised as human rights.

On the 28th August 2020, PWMSA held a virtual dialogue under the theme:
Realizing Women’s Rights to Land Ownership and Financially Enabled Production. This was done in line with the new resolve of putting focus on Agribusiness and to fast-track the process of women’s access to productive assets such as land.

The PWMSA strongly believes that this new resolve assist women to participate in food production and access to markets. Furthermore, it will address inequality by providing sustainable income generation, economic independence and food security to eradicate poverty that affects many vulnerable groups who have been excluded for decades.

As we commemorate Women’s Day, we must celebrate the progress which women
has made thus far and we must continue to recognise that women’s rights must be realised for us to live in a just and equal society.

We urge women to continue to be vigilant of the COVID 19 pandemic by adhering to non-pharmaceutical practices such as the washing of hands, keeping social distance, wearing of masks and avoiding going to large gatherings.

We urge all South Africans to prioritise getting vaccines so as to focus on repositioning the country on economic recovery.

“YOU STRIKE A WOMAN, YOU STRIKE A ROCK”
“WATHINT’ ABAFAZI, WATHINT’ IMBOKODO”

Issued by:
Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize,
PWMSA National Convenor

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