SABRINA DEAN – The ANC Women’s league is expected to march through Bloemfontein tomorrow to commemorate the centennial of the Women’s Anti-pass Campaign of 28 May 1913.
Government said in a statement tomorrow’s march takes place under the theme “Retracing the footsteps of women of 1913”. The statement said: “The purpose of the march is… to highlight challenges that women continue to face even to date in various facets of life, as well as to celebrate strides achieved in the emancipation of women 19 years into a democratic South Africa.”
On 28 May 1913, throngs of women from different races from Waaihoek location marched to the centre of town to the municipal offices in Bloemfontein to hand over a petition against the promulgation of pass laws which also forced women to carry passes.
The statement said the promulgation of the Native Land Act in 1913 is also of historical significance in the broader women’s struggles across South Africa. The Act prohibited native blacks from purchasing and acquiring land in white areas and restricted them to reserves.
Tomorrow’s march is expected to depart from Waaihoek Methodist Church at 8am. Marchers will then proceed to the Free State Stadium.
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