On August 9, 1956, more than 20,000 South African women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, chanting "Wathint' Abafazi Wathint' imbokodo" — You strike the women, you strike the rock. They were protesting the extension of pass laws to women under apartheid, a system designed to control their movement and limit their freedom. This year marks the 70th anniversary of that powerful demonstration, and South Africa is taking stock of how far women's rights have come since then.
The answer is: progress, but more work remains. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told SAnews that women in South Africa now hold top leadership positions in banks and mining companies, achievements she directly linked to the bravery of those who marched in 1956. "We have women running banks in the country; women taking positions of leadership as CEOs of mining companies, and that is what freedom and the struggle of the women of the 1950s have brought us," she said.
One striking example of this shift is Valdene Reddy, who recently became Group CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She is the first woman of colour to hold the position, following Dr. Leila Fourie, who became the first woman to lead the exchange when she was appointed in 2019. The JSE, the continent's largest stock market, is now headed by a woman of colour — a milestone that would have seemed impossible to the women who faced arrest and violence in 1956.
Parliament has also seen greater representation of women over the decades, reaching 50 percent at one point. But Minister Ntshavheni acknowledged that representation has since declined, and she called on political parties to do better. "We regret that representation has declined, and we are challenging political parties to make sure that their representation in Parliament includes women and ensures equal representation," she said.
A recent employment equity report found that men still hold more than twice as many top management positions as women in South Africa. Minister Ntshavheni said the private sector needs to address these imbalances, especially for Black women, who remain underrepresented in senior leadership even as they enter the workforce in greater numbers.
Despite the challenges, the Minister encouraged young women to pursue education and seek mentorship. "The first issue is that young women must prioritise their education," she said. "From there, nothing can stop you. It takes hard work, and there will be challenges, but hard work, determination, and calling out for support will get you there." She added that women in leadership have a responsibility to guide the next generation, just as they were guided by those who came before them.
2026 is a year of reflection in South Africa, marking not only 70 years since the Women's March but also 30 years since the country's Constitution was adopted — a document that guarantees gender equality and women's rights. The struggle continues, but the rocks the women of 1956 struck have cracked open space for the leaders of today.