The Northern Cape Provincial Government will celebrate and honour Northern Cape women who have sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy we enjoy. The provincial government will mark the 2018 Women's Day celebrations on Sunday, 12 August at the Douglas Stadium in the Pixley ka Seme District. The event which will be addressed by Premier Ms. Sylvia Lucas will be commemorated under the theme "100 Years of Albertina Sisulu: Woman of Fortitude, Women United in Moving South Africa Forward". Premier Lucas will be accompanied by the Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Ms. Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba together with other Members of the Provincial Executive Council.
The month of August in South Africa is dedicated to the commemoration 1956 Women’s March. The iconic march saw 20 000 women march to the Union Buildings to protest against the discriminatory pass laws. This march has been celebrated since 1995 as Women’s Day to recognize the important role played by women during the struggle for liberation against colonisation and apartheid. This year’s commemoration takes on a special significance as it is the year of the “triple centenary”. South Africa celebrates the birth of struggle icon Mama Albertina Sisulu and Tata Nelson Mandela as well as the formation of the Bantu Women’s League.
The Mama Sisulu’s centenary celebration will form a core thrust of Women’s Month as we pay tribute to her and the many women leaders of her generation. Mama Sisulu was one of the organisers of the anti-pass Women’s March in 1956 and played a key role in its planning. Premier Lucas will also use the commemoration to pay tribute to Northern Cape women who have left a foot print in their communities. Government will lay wreaths at the gravesides of women warriors who shaped the Northern Cape struggle. Various government departments are scheduled to render services and roll out their programmes to multitudes of women expected to attend the event.
The spirit of 1956 and the formation of the Bantu Women’s League inspire women today who face challenges such as gender-based violence and economic emancipation for women. This year Women’s Month takes places against a backdrop of a spate of violence and abuse against women. Members of the media are hereby cordially invited to the 2018 Provincial Women's Day commemoration to be held on Sunday, 12 August 2018 at Douglas Stadium in the Pixley ka Seme District.
For more information please contact either Mr. Conrad Fortune @ 079 8730679 or Mr. Morapedi Sekhoane @ 078 944 0200
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Issued by: Communications Unit
Northern Cape Sport, Arts and Culture Department
