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Women’s Day celebrations
28 July 2008
The year 2008 marks the 52nd anniversary of the women’s anti-pass march to the Union Buildings in 1956. This historic march marked a turning point in the role of women in the struggle for freedom and society at large. Since that eventful day, women from all walks of life became equal partners in the struggle for a non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
The theme for the 2008 Women’s Day celebrations is Business Unusual: All Power to Women! The commemorative events planned for this year intend to build on the recent memorial events, in particular the recent commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the historic march to the Union Buildings. We call upon all sectors of society to celebrate women who managed to become models of community development against what often seemed to be insurmountable odds.
Progress has been made in the emancipation and empowerment of women in South Africa. Many more women have access to basic services such as housing, education, health, free basic electricity, economic status and full citizenship that does not tie them to marry men in order to access certain rights such as property, employment.
The main event of the nation-wide celebrations will be held in the North West province. There will be a two day programme to mark the 2008 celebrations. The first day, 8 August will be characterised by a Women’s Festival at the Mmabatho Civic. The festival includes exhibitions, film, music, workshops and roundtable discussions. Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will speak at a dinner to honour South Africa in the evening. On 9 August, there will be an event at Ga-Motlatla Sports field, Motlatla village, near Lichtenburg. President Thabo Mbeki will speak at this event.
We call upon all people resident in South Africa to participate in the planned national and provincial events and wish them a happy National Women’s Day.
For media enquiries, contact:
Mack Lewele
Tel: 012 441 3083
Cell: 082 450 5076
Cornelius Monama
Tel: 018 387 3753
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
28 July 2008