Uneven Ground: Seventy Years After the Women’s March, South Africa Still Struggles for Equality

As women in South Africa mark the seventieth anniversary of their historic march against pass laws, a stark contrast emerges between progress made and obstacles still ahead. The August 9, 1956 rally was a pivotal moment in the country’s struggle against apartheid, but its legacy has been marred by decades of half-hearted efforts to address systemic inequalities.

The women who marched on Pretoria’s Union Buildings were fighting not just for equal rights, but also against the dehumanizing effects of segregation. By refusing to carry passes, they challenged the arbitrary control exerted over Black women’s lives by the apartheid regime. Their activism sparked a broader movement that helped dismantle pass laws and paved the way for democracy.

South African women have made significant gains in politics since then. The legacy of 1956 is visible in strong representation of women in parliament – over 45% of lawmakers are female. However, this progress has not translated into corresponding improvements in economic or social equality. In fact, statistics on violence against women are particularly disturbing: nearly a third of women have experienced physical violence in their lifetime, while one in five men admit to perpetrating intimate partner violence.

These figures expose the limits of formal equality and highlight the need for more fundamental changes in attitudes, relationships, and behaviors. South Africa’s progressive laws on gender equity and equality offer little comfort when millions of women still live with poverty, unemployment, and limited access to healthcare and education. The ANC-led government has failed to dismantle economic structures that underpinned apartheid, leaving many poor women in a state of perpetual precariousness.

Middle-class women enjoy greater privileges and protections, but their privilege often comes with complicity in systems that perpetuate inequality. This creates a disconnect between those who hold power and those they are meant to serve. To address this, systemic changes are needed – from land reform to economic empowerment programs – rather than just lip service to equality.

Women’s Day in South Africa should be a celebration not just of past victories but also of ongoing struggles and the collective efforts needed for lasting change. The most important lesson from 1956 is that equality cannot be driven solely by women’s demands; it requires active engagement from men, communities, and institutions in dismantling systemic barriers to equality. Until this happens, Women’s Day will remain a day of mixed emotions – one part celebration, two parts reminder of how much work remains to be done.