South Africa marks 70 years since women marched against apartheid pass laws.

South Africa is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Women’s March, a pivotal moment in the country’s anti-apartheid struggle. On August 9, 1956, more than 20,000 women of all races marched to the government buildings in Pretoria. They protested against laws that required non-white South Africans to carry internal passports, known as “pass books.” The march was led by four prominent activists: Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. The women stood silently for 30 minutes before singing a protest song. Its lyrics, translated from the Zulu language, declared: “You have touched the women, you have struck a rock.” That phrase, “strike a rock,” became a lasting symbol of women’s resistance in the country. The pass laws remained in place for decades, but the 1956 march is credited with strengthening the broader movement against racial segregation. Today, August 9 is a national public holiday in South Africa, known as National Women’s Day. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the role women played in the fight for equality, a struggle that continues in the present day.