South Africa marks 70 years since 1956 Women’s March, yet gender violence persists

South Africa observed the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women’s March, when roughly 20,000 women of diverse backgrounds converged on Pretoria to protest pass laws. While the protest helped dismantle apartheid, a 2024 United Nations Women study reveals that more than one-third of South African women have endured physical or sexual violence. Elder activist Ramnie Dinat, who helped her mother Ama Naidoo mobilize participants, recalled the march’s inclusive spirit.

The former Women’s Jail, now a museum at Constitution Hill, is managed by Nolubabalo Memese, who highlights how past oppression mirrors today’s gender-based violence and economic inequality. Paralympic wheelchair-tennis champion Kgothatso Montjane, a 2024 Wimbledon doubles winner, credits the 1956 march for opening doors but notes ongoing financial and racial barriers in sport. Together, these voices underscore that legal freedom has not yet translated into safety and equality for South African women.