“Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock”.
by Gillian Hugo
Perhaps it’s fitting that a woman writes the weekly bulletin piece ahead of tomorrow’s public holiday. On 9 August, many people from diverse backgrounds, races, and cultural groups gather to celebrate National Women’s Day.
This annual South African public holiday commemorates an eventful day in the country’s history. On this day in 1956, approximately 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, beginning a campaign to end the pass laws of The Group Areas Act of 1950. The apartheid government of the time required that all black people carry a special “pass” or identification document. This pass permitted entry into designated “white” areas. This terrible law impeded and restricted the freedom of movement of black people.
Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa and Helen Joseph led the 1956 march. The petitions they left at the then prime minister J G Strydom’s office were marked by over 100,000 signatures. After standing quietly outside for about half an hour, the women struck up a protest song. The poignant words “Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock” reinforced the courage and strength of these women.
This day celebrates these brave women and reminds us of the immense contributions women make to our society. Despite this, many South African women continue to endure the atrocities of crimes against them in the country and the conditions that exacerbate gender-based violence (GBV), leading to femicide.
According to Stats SA, in mid-2020, the female population of South Africa tallied 30,5 million, approximately 51,1% of the entire population. The report showed that South African women were more disadvantaged than males. They were economically vulnerable, with higher unemployment rates and levels of poverty. Black African women were the most vulnerable, with the highest unemployment rate. The prevalence of physical and sexual violence was much higher amongst less-educated women who had fewer opportunities. In August 2024, not much has changed.
In his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa described GBV in South Africa as the country’s “second pandemic”. The South African government apparently “continues to intensify its fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF)”. New laws to ensure the safety and protection of women and children in South Africa from abuse and violence have also been introduced.
The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill was signed into law on 24 May 2024. This new legislation facilitates the establishment of a council to provide strategic leadership in the fight against GBVF. The council, calling on the experience and expertise of labour, business and civil society, will employ an inclusive, focused and resourced approach in its efforts to combat this “pandemic”. My prayer is that they will be motivated and effective in their actions and not spend hours huddled around a boardroom table while somewhere in South Africa, another woman or child is beaten, raped or murdered.
Along with the Government’s intervention policies and resource funds, there are many independent “frontline fighters” trying hard to eradicate GBVF in South Africa. They work tirelessly to fight for and protect women and children exposed to GBVF, assisting victims and survivors.
So what can you do in this situation? Perhaps if President Ramaphosa declared 24 May as a national holiday to commemorate those GBVF victims and survivors, there may be more attention brought to the subject. We need to remember the victims, speak their names, and tell their stories. We must share and learn from the experiences of GBVF and step up to defend the basic human rights of these victims.
Global Citizen suggests that you join them as they “advocate for the rights of women and girls everywhere, and take action with us to help bring gender-based violence to an end once and for all.”
“Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.”
(English translation of Wathint abafazi wathint imbokodo).
