Sunday 9 August is National Women’s Day.

What Does This Mean?

National Women’s Day is an annual public holiday in South Africa on August 9th. This year, as it falls on a Sunday, the day will be observed on Monday 10 August.

History of National Women’s Day

The holiday commemorates the national march of women on this day in 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the ‘pass’.

On August 9th 1956, 20,000 women staged a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against proposed amendments to the act. They left petitions containing more than 100,000 signatures at prime minister J.G. Strijdom’s office door. They stood silently outside his door for 30 minutes.

The women then sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion: Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’imbokodo! (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.).

How is National Women’s Day celebrated?

In the 60 years since, the phrase has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa.

National Women’s Day was first celebrated as a national holiday in 1995. And is celebrated throughout the country since then. So, spoil the women in your life this August by giving them the cleanest home possible. 

Call QClean today to book your house, carpet and/or upholstery clean as soon as possible.  We will send our team of men (and a woman or two) to breathe fresh life into your home again – inside and out.