Newly elected Deputy President of the ANC Women’s League, Sisi Ntombela says part of the march will be to thank the South African government for contributing to women’s growth in 21 years of democracy.

Ntombela says they would also be requesting government to work harder to change conditions of women’s lives.

On 9 August 1956, about 20 000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the discriminatory pass laws, which had restricted the movement of black people in the country.

This march has been celebrated since 1995 as Women’s Day, to recognise the important and significant role that political activism by women played during the struggle for liberation against colonisation and apartheid.

National Women’s Day Celebrations are being held at the Harry Gwala Multipurpose Centre under the theme, “Women united in moving South Africa forward.”

President Jacob Zuma is expected to release the first ever, 'Status of Women Report'. 

According to Zuma’s spokesperson, Bongani Majola, the report was compiled by the Department of Women after hosting dialogues between the months of March and June 2015, across the country in a bid to assess the current status of women.

Refilwe Gaeswe/OFM News