South Africa Marks 70 Years Since Historic Women's March

South Africa on Sunday marked 70 years since more than 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the apartheid government's pass laws. The national commemoration, held under the theme "Empowered Women, Empower Nations," brought together political leaders, activists, and women from across the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa led the event, which also featured Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai as a guest. In his address, Ramaphosa said the country's progress must be measured by whether women can fully participate in its economy and society. He stressed that political freedom for women must translate into economic freedom, calling for greater efforts to advance women's economic empowerment.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the strides made, noting South Africa ranks highly on global indexes for women's empowerment, including gender parity, educational outcomes, financial inclusion, and political representation. However, he also pointed to persistent challenges, saying too many women remain without work, earn less than men for the same work, and carry unrecognized burdens of caregiving.

Yousafzai, who has campaigned globally for girls' education and women's rights, drew a connection between the struggle of South African women and women facing restrictions elsewhere. She referenced the situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control in August 2021, saying they have used their power to abuse women and girls, and asked for solidarity in the fight against oppression.

The commemoration paid tribute to the generations of women whose activism helped shape South Africa's democracy, with Ramaphosa expressing pride in standing "on the shoulders of giants of the Mbokodo of 1956."