Women's Day

9 August 2009

President Jacob Zuma will on Sunday, 9 August 2009, deliver a keynote address at the National Women's Day celebrations in KwaZulu Natal province, Vryheid, Bhekuzulu Sports Grounds.

The Ministry of Arts and Culture, the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government jointly host the 2009 events.

This year's Women's Day celebrations take place under the theme "Together empowering women for development and gender equality," a call by government to all sectors of society, to unite in a national effort for the advancement of women in all spheres of our national life.

Women's day marks the anniversary of the great Women's March of 1956, where women marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the carrying of pass books.

On 9 August 1956, about 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against legislation aimed at tightening the apartheid government's control over the movement of black women in urban areas.

Government have made big strides in advancing the course of developing women in our country.

The establishment of the Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities consolidates our programme to continue the development of women in our country.
The Women’s Empowerment Fund and the Employment Equity Act continue to ensure the appointment and support for women in top leadership positions in government and the private sector.
Through interventions such as the rural and local economic development programmes and social safety systems we continue to reduce the burden of women-headed households who bare the brunt of poverty.
The Kha ri Gude literacy campaign will build functional literacy amongst the marginalised adults including women.

Advisories for government events

Calendar of government events [PDF]

Mpumalanga Women's Day event [PDF]

Women's struggle in South Africa