OWN CORRESPONDENT
Three Jewish women leaders part of the Women’s Day march
To mark the occasion this year, President Jacob Zuma, Cabinet ministers and various leaders from civil society gathered in Pretoria’s Lilian Ngoyi Street for the official unveiling of both a new Women’s Centre and of bronze statues depicting the four main leaders (including Ngoyi herself) of the original march. Afterwards, a symbolic walk to the Union Buildings took place.
One of those taking part in the Women’s Day march was Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, the only survivor of those leaders. She was accompanied by, among others, three representatives of the Jewish community, SAJBD National President Mary Kluk, National Director Wendy Kahn and Chaya Singer.
“In general, people see public holidays as being no more than a welcome day off work and an opportunity for recreation,” said Kluk. While there is nothing wrong with this, Kluk stressed how important it was on such occasions to also reflect on why such days had been chosen as times of national remembrance.
“The essence of Women’s Day is to remember the events of August 9, 1956, the context in which they took place, what impact they had on the subsequent history of the anti-apartheid struggle and the lessons that could be learned from this in the here and now.
“Not only should the contribution made by those brave women be remembered,” she said, “but the example they set should be perpetuated in our own circles today.”
Kahn likewise felt that the heroic example set by their predecessors should inspire South African women in their confronting the challenges facing them in contemporary times. The issues might have changed, she said, but the voice of the women needed to be as vociferous as ever.
Singer commented on how moving it had been to have been part of so powerfully symbolic an occasion.
“Sophia Williams-de Bruyn represented living history, someone who had been an intrinsic part of the events that were commemorated. Being able to walk alongside her, along the very route she and her fellow protesters followed 60 years ago, was an unforgettable experience.”
