South African Women Protest Apartheid In Today's History, 9 August 1956

South African women's Gelora came to Pretoria to reject apartheid in 1956. (South African History Online)

JAKARTA History today, 68 years ago, August 9, 1956, thousands of women black to colored skin-- in South Africa came down to demonstrate at Union Buildings in Pretoria protesting the Appartheid Law. They no longer want humans to be distinguished by skin tone.

Previously, colonialism brought dirty stains in the history of the South African nation. The presence of apartheid policies is a form. The policy makes whites distinguish rights obtained by blacks.

Racial and ethnic discrimination (racism) is never easy to forget in historical memory. South Africa has felt it. In the past, racist white colonialists chose to gather themselves in the African National Party in 1948.

They aspire to bring Africa to a new direction. Instead of starting to open their minds with differences, they actually brought South Africa to become a white country. The policy was locked with the ratification of the Appartheid Law.

The impact is everywhere. The black and other colored people are not considered citizens. Their political rights are violated. The rights are the same. Between white and black people are distinguished in many ways. A much different salary. Even toilets are different.

White people are disgust with blacks. The barbarity continues. Anyone who tries to ban or reject Apairheid will be rewarded with punishment. This condition caused protests from blacks to burst. Resistance arose everywhere.

The white government does not remain silent. They prefer to eradicate black fighters. Not a few of them were arrested. They continue to speak up in order to get equal living rights.

An African (primbumi) is prohibited from doing work that requires skills, in the building industry in any city that is for white people. A white person who is a few hours a week at his own home uses his time to teach his black servant to read, is considered guilty of committing a crime.

"Anyone who provides special education for disabled African children, without the approval of the Minister of Education, is found guilty of committing a criminal act. Permits will not be given to white orchestraes to accompany a choir of Africans holding performances, even though white spectators with black ones have been separated," wrote Tempo magazine report entitled Crime According to Appartheid (1976).

Gelora action against apartheid does not only have men. Women also refused. The peak occurred on August 9, 1956. Tens of thousands (it is believed as many as 20 thousand) of women black, white, and colored skin held a demonstration at Union Bulidings in Pretoria.

They came to protest apartheid. The women who came also showed their identities. There are workers and there are also housewives holding children on their backs. They wore various kinds of dresses.

The action then made Watint' tibafazi, watin' imbobodo (You Hit A Woman, You Hit A Stone) resonant on the streets of Pretoria. The song then became a symbol of the courage and strength of South African women.

Since the demonstration the phrase 'hit a woman, hitting a stone' has represented the courage and power of women. The parade has finally shown that the stereotypes about women who are politically and immaturely incompetent, who are tied to homes, are outdated and inaccurate," are written in a Mail & Guardian page report entitled The Rock Strikes Back (2006).