The 1956 Women’s March to Pretoria

A Legacy of Resistance and Empowerment

This month we pay tribute to The Women’s March a significant protest in South Africa on August 9, 1956, where over 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws. These laws, part of the apartheid system, restricted the movement of Black women. The march, organized by the Federation of South African Women, is commemorated annually as National Women’s Day. 

I. Executive Summary

“The Women’s March of 1956 to Pretoria – 64th Anniversary,” highlights the enduring significance of the 1956 Women’s March in South Africa. The publication serves as a tribute to the “gallant Matriarchs” who have consistently driven the nation’s “Political and Cultural quests for freedom,” from the early 20th century to contemporary struggles. Key themes include the central and often unacknowledged role of women in liberation movements, their proactive and self-directed agency, the intersection of women’s rights and national liberation, and the ongoing relevance of their fight for social justice. The e-book itself is a multi-vocal, intergenerational, and multilingual project, aiming to vivify historical figures and connect the past, present, and future of women’s activism.

II. Main Themes and Most Important Ideas/Facts

1. Centrality of Women in South Africa’s Freedom Struggle:

• The document strongly asserts that women were not “mere accomplices or junior partners” in the fight for freedom, but “protagonists [who] acted of their own volition.”
• The “unifying theme” in South Africa’s history of struggle is identified as “the role of women in attaining South Africa’s freedom.”
• This is illustrated through a lineage of women’s activism, from Charlotte Mannya Maxeke to the 1956 March, Sharpeville (1960), the 1976 student uprising, and more recent movements like #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall.

1. Proactive Agency and Leadership of Women:

• The publication dedicates itself to “the gallant Matriarchs of our Political and Cultural quests for freedom,” highlighting figures like “Mams Makgomo, Charlotte Mannya Maxeke and Nontsizi Mgqwetho.”
• Charlotte Mannya Maxeke is presented as a foundational figure, who “founded the predecessor of the African National Congress Women’s League, the Bantu Women’s League (BWL), in 1918.” She also led a “delegation to the then prime minister, Louis Botha, in protest at the unjust pass laws” in 1919 and, with 700 others, “went on to burn their passbooks in 1920 in Bloemfontein.” This demonstrates a long history of organised, proactive resistance by women.
• The 1956 March itself was a meticulously planned act of defiance, with the endorsement noting that “the march had actually been rehearsed about a year earlier, before the actual event.”

1. The “Dompas” as a Catalyst for Women’s Resistance:

• The 1956 March specifically protested “the carrying of dompasses by African women.”
• This discriminatory practice is highlighted as diminishing “their humanity with repressive carrying of the dompasses by African women, and only African women.” This specific injustice underscores the direct threat to women’s autonomy and dignity.

1. Intersection of Women’s Quest for Equality and National Liberation:

• Dr. Teboho Maitse is quoted as having “sharply highlighted the ‘interconnection between women’s quest for equality and the struggle for national liberation’.” This is a crucial concept, indicating that the fight for women’s rights was not separate from, but integral to, the broader anti-apartheid movement.
• The text notes that the struggle sometimes had “to be directed against the lack of representation within the male-dominated liberation movements themselves,” pointing to internal struggles for gender equality within the broader fight for freedom.

1. Ongoing Relevance and Legacy:

• The 1956 marchers “remain models for us today as we continue to navigate treacherous terrains as we combat numerous problems in our own times, including femicide, gender-based violence, economic inequality and various other unwelcome indicators of incomplete liberation.”
• Their fight is directly linked to “many of the goals which we fight for too,” demonstrating an unbroken chain of activism.
• The e-book serves as a “welcome contribution to recognising these stalwarts” and vivifying “these historical figures” to remind us “that extraordinary feats are accomplished by ordinary human beings who choose to be uncompromising while injustices abound.”

1. The E-book as a Modern Commemoration:

• The e-book was created under challenging conditions (Covid-19 lockdown), necessitating “digitally-virtual” collaboration, underscoring the adaptability of commemorative efforts.
• It is described as “multivocal, multilingual and intergenerational,” incorporating “poetry, songs, personal letters, tributes and personal essays as well as snippets from archival material.”
• The aim was to “go into the minds and hearts of those women, what got them going, imagine their conversations, speak for those whose names never made headlines.” This highlights an intention to capture the personal experiences and untold stories of the marchers.

III. Key Figures and Organizations

• Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Founder of the Bantu Women’s League (BWL), led protests against pass laws in 1919-1920. Celebrated as a foundational “Matriarch.”
• Nontsizi Mgqwetho: Xhosa poet whose 1925 poem is included to connect historical women’s concerns with the present.
• Masediba Lillian Matabane Ngoyi: Described as a forceful orator whose impact was noted by Oom Gov Mbeki.
• Dr. Teboho Maitse: “Godmother of the project” who emphasised the interconnection of women’s equality and national liberation.
• Mutloatse Arts Heritage Trust (MAHT): Publisher and driving force behind both the 2006 and 2020 editions of the book.
• Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS) of the University of Johannesburg: Commissioned and funded the e-book.
• African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) / Bantu Women’s League (BWL): Early organisations demonstrating women’s political activism.
• The Black Sash: A contributing organisation, reflecting broad support for women’s rights.

IV. Notable Quotes

• “Mother holds the blade by its sharp end, in order to transform society for the public good.” (Dedication)
• “As the retelling of history will often have you believe, they were not mere accomplices or junior partners by any means; these protagonists acted of their own volition and in line with the dictates of the pursuit of justice and equality.” (Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Endorsement)
• “Indeed, the struggle had on occasion to be directed against the lack of representation within the male-dominated liberation movements themselves. For this, we are all better off.” (Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Endorsement)
• “extraordinary feats are accomplished by ordinary human beings who choose to be uncompromising while injustices abound.” (Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Endorsement)
• “the ‘interconnection between women’s quest for equality and the struggle for national liberation’.” (Dr. Teboho Maitse, as quoted by the Publisher)
• “This book is multivocal, multilingual and intergenerational.” (Boitumelo Mofokeng and Athambile Masola, Co-editors)
• “We are going into the minds and hearts of those women, what got them going, imagine their conversations, speak for those whose names never made headlines and their participation would not be accounted for through their personal experiences of that day … they would remain the nameless thousands that marched on Strydom …” (Dr. Mutloatse’s brief to the editors, quoted by Co-editors)

V. Conclusion

The e-book “The Women’s March of 1956 to Pretoria – 64th Anniversary” is more than a historical account; it is a powerful affirmation of the indispensable and often pioneering role of South African women in achieving freedom and justice. By connecting the struggles of the past with the challenges of the present, it serves as an inspirational reminder that the fight for liberation is ongoing and deeply rooted in the courage and conviction of ordinary women. The publication successfully bridges generations and perspectives, ensuring that the legacy of the 1956 Women’s March continues to resonate and inspire.