South Africa commemorates National Women’s month with the theme: “The Year of OR Tambo: Women United in Moving South Africa Forward”.

Posted: 01 August 2017

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This year’s 2017 National Women’s Day celebrations will pay tribute to women and their role in the liberation struggle. This year’s celebration coincides with the centenary of struggle icon OR Tambo.

OR Tambo was a strong advocate for gender equality. During the Conference of Women in Luanda in 1981, he said: “The mobilisation of women is the task, not only of women alone, or of men alone, but of all of us, men and women alike, comrades in struggle. The mobilisation of the people into active resistance and struggle for liberation demands the energies of women no less than of men.”

Women’s Month takes place against a backdrop of an increase in the levels of violence and brutality against women and children in our society. Since the start of the year, a number of incidents of violence and women abuse have made headlines.

This year’s event also takes place against a backdrop of a poor performing economy. Invariably, women will be most affected by the economic decline and bear the brunt of its resultant negative economic and social effects.

The 2017 celebrations will build on the announcements made by President Zuma with regard to women economic emancipation; addressing issues of gender based violence and give more impetus to government and society’s efforts in this regard.

This year marks the 61st anniversary of the Women’s March to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956. On that day up to 20 000 women of all races, class and religious persuasions protested against the extension of Pass Laws. The march was a turning point in the role of women in the struggle for freedom and our society at large.

The national celebrations will also include the National Dialogues on Violence against Women to help combat the continued scourge of violent attacks and abuse against women. The dialogues are a platform for deepening democracy whilst ensuring safer and crime-free communities, especially for women and children.