Activists recall role of women in defeating white minority rule
Women played an important role in the fight for South Africa's freedom by opposing unjust laws and mobilizing protest marches, according to 69-year-old Suraya “Bibi” Khan.
“Women played various active roles. Some were mobilizers, activists, and others joined the armed struggle against the oppressive regime,” the community worker, who grew up fighting for equality and justice for all, said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency at her home in the Lenasia South suburb of Johannesburg.
Although she was just 4 years old on Aug. 9, 1956, when 20,000 women of all races marched through the streets of Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, she believes this was a major step in fighting apartheid and its unjust laws.
The women’s march was aimed at protesting the introduction of the apartheid pass law, which required nonwhites -- especially Blacks -- to carry pass books, or domestic passports, which restricted their movement in the country.
The march was organized by Sophie de Bruyn, Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa, who demanded the then Prime Minister, JG Strijdom, to revoke the pass laws. De Bruyn is today the only surviving leader of the protest.
South Africa annually marks Aug. 9 as Women’s Month to celebrate the bravery of the women who participated in the march and to also pay tribute to the pioneers of the women’s movement in the country’s history, dating back to 1913.
Some of the pioneers include Charlotte Maxeke, who led the way in establishing the African National Congress Women’s League and encouraging women to engage in the struggle for freedom.
- Contribution of Muslim women to struggle
Khan, who got involved in activism in the late 1970s to oppose exploitative labor practices and other injustices, told Anadolu Agency that the rise of women against apartheid “was the beginning of its fall.”
She said the formation of the Federation of Transvaal Women (FEDTRAW) in 1984 brought together close to 200 women from all over the Transvaal (now known as Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria), creating a massive force against apartheid.
Dr. Lubna Nadvi, a political scientist, academic and researcher based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, told Anadolu Agency in an interview that a number of Muslim women made various contributions to both the anti-apartheid struggle and building democracy post 1994.
She said some of these women were detained by the apartheid regime for actively organizing against the apartheid government, giving speeches and holding important positions in their respective organizations.
“In the post-1994 dispensation, some served in the democratic government and others continued to campaign against ongoing social injustices in the new South Africa,” she said.
Some of the outstanding Muslim women activists included Amina Cachalia, Rahima Moosa, Fatima Meer and Naledi Pandor.
- How far has South Africa gone in realizing women’s rights?
Nadvi said the country has made some advances since 1956 in attempting to realize women’s rights, although a lot more still needs to be done.
“The South African government has attempted to work towards parity in terms of the number of women in parliament and holding ministerial and leadership positions,” she said.
Nadvi said many new laws have also been introduced to protect women against domestic violence, gender-based violence and other forms of abuse and discrimination.
“The business sector has tried to ensure many more women have access to opportunities to become entrepreneurs and business owners,” said the academic and gender rights activist.
She added, however, that a lot more still has to be done, such as the country electing a female president as well as achieving other goals.
