The past Saturday commemorated the 52nd anniversary of when over 20,000 South African women of all races and ages participated in a national march against pass laws, restricting women’s freedom of movement in the country.

The anthem of the march was the song ‘If you strike a woman, you strike a rock.’ In accordance with this idea, the march was not stopped from proceeding; on the contrary, it was a big success. On that day in 1956, South African women proved that they had the courage to stand up against an oppressive system and a voice that was powerful enough to bring about positive social change.

Sadly, the stories of many women who have played an important role in South African history have gone untold. An exciting new project by South African History Online (SAHO) aims to discover and document information about these women, in particular those that participated in the 1956 March. SAHO is developing an online resource of the ongoing political struggle for South African women.

Likewise, Amazwi has dedicated itself to empowering the voices of women in South Africa. Through journalism education, Amazwi has provided rural Shangaan and Sotho women with the tools to tell their stories, as well as the stories of their communities, in a form that can be preserved for generations to come. Amazwi commends its five current journalists – Thandi Mkhatshwa, Constance Rahlane, Linky Matsie, Bongekile Mhlanga and Lydia Ngomane – for their courage and perseverance in pursuing a profession that can be extremely challenging albeit critical to their community on many different levels.

Daniela Cohen, NPO Manager
info@amazwi.org