GAUTENG CELEBRATES WOMEN'S DAY

The 1956 heroines will be commemorated during this year’s Provincial Women’s
Day Commemoration scheduled to take place at the Union Buildings, on 9 August.

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 event planned for this year intends to build on the recent memorial events, in particular the recent commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the historic march to the Union Buildings. The Provincial Government calls upon all sectors of society to celebrate women who managed to become models of community development against 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, and electricity.

“While significant progress has been made in the fight against poverty, many women are still trapped in a sea of poverty and deprivation because of disempowerment and illiteracy. In an attempt to speed up the empowerment of women, government will increase its efforts to facilitate the entry of women into the mainstream economy. We also call upon all sectors of society, to work together to bring an end to the marginalization of women in the economic sector”, said MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Barbara Creecy.

The event is being organized jointly by the Gauteng Provincial Government in partnership with the City of Tshwane. The day’s activities will start with the Health Walk where about 20 000 women will gather at Church Square before making their way to the Union Building through Church Street. Thereafter, the Premier will deliver a keynote address. The political programme will be followed by entertainment by leading South African artists such as Ladies in Jazz, KB and Deborah Frazer.
With thanks to the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation