Exclusive | Sophie de Bruyn reflects on the Historic 1956 Women’s March
Sophie de Bruyn, one of the four leaders of the historic 1956 Women’s March, recounts the events that led to one of South Africa’s most defining moments in the fight against apartheid.
On the 9th of August 1956, more than 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the extension of pass laws to women.
De Bruyn and three fellow leaders presented a memorandum outlining women’s grievances at the office of then Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom.
Although informed by a clerk that the Prime Minister was not present, they handed over the memorandum before returning to the waiting crowd.
The women then stood in silent protest before breaking into freedom songs and the now-iconic anthem: “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo, basop Stridjom uzokufa’.”
In this SABC News Exclusive, specialist correspondent Sophie Mokoena speaks to Sophie de Bruyn, one of the last surviving leaders of the march, as she shares a first-hand account of organising the protest, delivering the memorandum, and the enduring legacy of the women who changed South African history.
For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.
