>>Download 2012 Women's Month Activities

>>Women's Month Media Briefing Invitation

This year we are commemorating the 56th anniversary of the women’s anti-pass march to the Union Buildings. The historical significance of August 9, National Women’s Day, that has led to an annual commemoration, started and culminated into a march on union Buildings in 1956 by 20 000 women.

Every year since 1956 the day is commemorated to celebrate women who led the march to protest the inclusion of women in the pass laws regulating the movements of Blacks. This was coordinated by the federation of South African Women (Fedsaw) led by four women; Charlotte Maxeke. Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams – De Bruyn. These leaders delivered petitions to the then Prime Minister, JG Strydom’s, office in the Union Buildings. Thousands of women throughout the country included names on these petitions indicating their support against pass laws and frustration at having their freedom of movement restricted by the pass law.

The month of August was declared women’s month by the democratically elected government of South Africa following a series of political activism by women during the struggle for liberation against colonisation and apartheid which culminated in the Women’s march on 9 August 1956. Women’s month is a tribute to the pioneers of the women’s movement in this country, dating back to 1912, when women like Lillian Ngoyi, led the way in establishing the ANC Women’s League and encouraging women to engage in the struggle for freedom.

The African women’s Decade presents a renewed opportunity for further realization and improvement of women’s participation. Its goal is to cascade, in concrete terms, the execution of commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment from grass roots, national and regional to continental level.

The commemoration of Women’s Month provides a platform for visible communication on government programmes and interventions aimed at improving the status of women in the country. During this month’ we salute all women for their achievements irrespective of who they are.
We review past progress of women’s development, and more importantly looking ahead at the opportunities that await future generations of women in South.

The theme for the 2012 Women’s Month is:
“Addressing unemployment, poverty and inequality: together contributing towards the progressive future for women”.
The theme speaks directly to the activities that will unfold during the month. The focus for this year will be mostly on rural women.
The advocacy activities for women’s month are aligned globally with development Goals, the 5 national priorities and the 12 outcomes of the Government Programme of action to ensure that gender mainstreaming actually happens.

The journey towards the empowerment of women and gender equality has been long and at times difficult, however great strides and milestones have been achieved since democracy in 1994, including political representation of women appointed in decision making positions, amongst others.
This year the Office on the Status of Women in the office of the Premier in conjunction with the Department of Sports Arts and Culture will work together to commemorate the day and co-ordinate activities of the various Departments.

Women’s Day will be celebrated nationally this year and Provinces have been encouraged to have advocacy programmes throughout the year. All Provinces will therefore be sending representatives to the national event in support of the commemoration.

Amongst the major activities planned for this year’s celebration, these are some of the highlights:
• The memorial lectures throughout the Regions: 18 August 2012
The lectures are in memory of all women who took part in the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings to honour Frances Baard, Sophie Du Bruyn, Ruth First, Ray Alexander, Dorothy Nyembe, Helen Joseph, Lillian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa.

However emphasis will also be placed on local women who have made a contribution to the liberation struggle in the various districts. These women are Noxolo Mpinda in Noupoort, Charlotte Mathys in Upington, Vivian Jantjies in Sutherland, Vivian Gaetsietsi in Kuruman and Obbey Sichwimi from Kimberley.

• Launch of Techno Girl: 20 August 2012
The Office on the Rights of the Child in the Office of the premier in partnership with the Department of Education, Engineering Businesses and the Mining Sector will identify girls from various schools to undergo week long training with a R100 per day stipend. This will be done in order in order to expose girls to amongst others Geology, Mining Engineering, Civil Engineering etc, fields that are predominantly denominated by men so as to encourage them to take up study in these areas.
• Provincial Women’s Management Week: 28 August 2012
The office of the Premier in partnership with the Commission for Gender Equality will hold a Seminar for Provincial Senior manager’s to coordinate the HOD’s 8 principles action plan. All senior managers in the provincial government will be invited by the Director General to come and account on what the departments has done to implement the 8 principles action plan for the empowerment of women.

• Closing of Women’s Month: 31 August 2012
The Office of the Premier in partnership with the department of Traditional Affairs will launch an economic empowerment initiative for the women of Ba-ga Toto traditional Council. At the event Mohumagadi Kgosi Toto will adopt a school in the village. Exhibitions and government services will be provided as part of the Day’s event.

The Northern Cape provincial government remains committed towards addressing social challenges facing women, particularly the scourge of gender based violence.

We want to encourage communities to form part of the planned activities of the month and to assist Government in curbing violence against women and children through campaigns that will be rolled out during this month.
We remain committed to our stance that only through women’s full and equal participation in all areas of public and private life can we hope to achieve the sustainable, peaceful and just society promised in our government programme of action.

See attached programme for further reading

Released by the Office of the Premier
Contact person: Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, 083 447 6586