The Amazwi Villager

Written By Bongekile Mhlanga

Women’s Day commemorates 09 August 1956, when women of all races in South Africa participated in a march against pass laws. Pass laws required blacks to carry documents to prove that they were allowed to enter a “white area.”

Fifty-two years after the march, the day dawned without a trace of clouds in the sky. Haswikota, an organization that works mostly with the youth, put together a celebration on this special day for women. The event was held at Ehlanzeni FET College, Mapulaneng Campus in Acornhoek. The organization had expected a lot of people from the surrounding communities, but few showed up for this spectacular event, that celebrated women. Whether it was the tardiness of the start time or women are just not into celebrating their rights, the event’s less favorable outcome was a puzzlement to the organizers.

Two brown tents stood under a big tree. One had a computer and huge speakers, where loud music boomed. In the other tent Voluntary Counseling and Testing was done (VCT). In this tent, the counselors encouraged women to take a stand and know their HIV status. Only one woman, who came with her son, was bold enough to want to know her status.

Six netball teams: TCE, Acornhoek, Haswikota, Spar Acornhoek, Spar Bushbuckridge, Radio Bushbuckridge and Shobiyane. were asked to come and play. Even though it was windy, netballers came in numbers to play. “It’s so boring, but it’s better than sitting at home doing nothing. I hope there is food,” said one of the spectators. “We invited the youth to come and participate because most of the time the celebrations concentrate on older women. So most of the time the young women feel neglected and that they are not women enough,” said Zinhle Masango, the event organizer. She thought that the number of people was better than nothing, but it’s not what she had in mind.