National Women’s Day Commemoration Links Legacy of 1956 to Upcoming Women’s Parliament

Parliament's Presiding Officers have joined South Africans in commemorating National Women's Day, using the occasion to link the enduring legacy of the 1956 Women's March to the upcoming Women's Parliament programme in the Northern Cape.

Led by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, Parliament paid tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest against apartheid pass laws, while reaffirming its commitment to advancing gender equality, women's empowerment and accountability for programmes that affect women and girls.

The historic march, led by activists including Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De-Bruyn, remains a defining act of peaceful resistance that helped change the course of South Africa's history. Seventy years later, the courage of those women continues to inspire Parliament's resolve to advance the constitutional promise of dignity, equality and freedom for women and girls.

Women's Month 2026 is observed under the theme "Empowered Women Empower the Nation". Parliament noted that, although South Africa has made substantial progress in furthering women's rights since 1994 through progressive legislation, gender-based violence and femicide, persistent inequality, poverty and economic exclusion continue to prevent many women from fully enjoying these freedoms.

Parliament said it would continue to use its constitutional mandate of law-making, oversight and public participation to promote gender equality and hold the executive accountable for the implementation of laws, budgets and programmes affecting women.

The national legislature is preparing to resume its Women's Parliament programme in the Northern Cape from 13 to 14 August 2026 under the theme "Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo: 70 Years of Resistance, 72 Years of Vision - Advancing Gender Justice, Equality and Resilient Economies for All".

The 2026 programme marks 30 years of South Africa's constitutional democracy, the 72nd anniversary of the 1954 Women's Charter and the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women's March. It will serve as a national platform bringing together women from civil society, traditional leadership, faith-based groups, labour, academia and youth organisations.

Rather than serving only as a commemoration, the Women's Parliament programme is intended to promote public participation and accountability by evaluating progress in fulfilling the Women's Charter. Parliament and government representatives will attend the programme to listen to women's lived experiences and account directly.

The programme will guide focused discussions on practical solutions to issues affecting women and girls, including gender-based violence, economic exclusion, unequal opportunities, climate vulnerability, digital exclusion, intergenerational dialogue between veteran struggle heroes and young women leaders, and women's economic empowerment, social inclusion and decision-making roles.

Parliamentary committees will continue to scrutinise government's response to gender-based violence and femicide, as well as the implementation of measures intended to expand women's economic opportunities and financial independence. In February 2026, the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities jointly examined funding, implementation timelines and measurable indicators for government's response following the classification of GBVF as a national disaster.

The Multi-Party Women's Caucus also provides a cross-party platform for promoting gender equality and keeping women's experiences and priorities central to the country's legislative agenda.

"It has been 70 years since the historic Women's March, but we still have a long way to go. Equality cannot just be something we talk about but must become a reality for every woman and girl," said the Presiding Officers. "This must be reflected in the way women are treated with dignity, have opportunities and are free to make their own choices. Parliament must match commemoration with action through responsive law-making, rigorous oversight of government's response to gender-based violence and femicide and meaningful public participation."

Beyond South Africa's borders, Parliament will continue to work with regional, continental and international parliamentary bodies to promote gender equality, strengthen women's leadership and share solutions to common challenges facing women across the world.

Parliament has also said the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which it will host in Cape Town from 13 to 18 September 2026, will include the 10th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference. The conference will provide a platform to promote women's leadership, gender-responsive legislation and parliamentary action against gender-based violence.

The Presiding Officers called on all South Africans to honour the legacy of the women of 1956 not only through commemoration, but also through collective action to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and challenge discrimination. Parliament wished all South Africans a meaningful and peaceful National Women's Day.