Women's March and Anti-Apartheid Resistance

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the key events of the 1956 Women's March, the establishment of FEDSAW, and the biographies of prominent leaders Helen Joseph and Lillian Ngoyi.

Women's March 1956

A peaceful and well-organized protest on 9 August 1956 where around 20,000 women from all racial groups marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest apartheid laws.

Union Buildings

The location in Pretoria where 20,000 women marched to deliver petitions with thousands of signatures to the Prime Minister.

J.G. Strijdom

The Prime Minister of South Africa in 1956 who was the target of the Women's March protests and petitions.

Helen Joseph

A South African leader and social worker who was a founder member of the Congress of Democrats and one of the leaders of the 1956 Women's March.

Congress of Democrats

The ANC white ally organization of which Helen Joseph was a founder member.

1957

The year Helen Joseph was first banned; her last banning order did not end until she turned 80.

Lillian Ngoyi

An anti-apartheid activist and strong orator who was the first woman elected to the executive committee of the ANC and led the 1956 march on the Union Buildings.

Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW or FSAW)

The first attempt to establish a broad-based women's organization, launched on 17 April 1954 in Johannesburg.

Ray Simons

The individual whose brainchild it was to launch FEDSAW and who drew in other leaders to form the steering committee.

Amina Cachalia

A member of the steering committee for FEDSAW who worked alongside Ray Simons, Helen Joseph, and Lillian Ngoyi.

Sophia Williams and Albertina Sisulu

Two of the leaders who, along with Lillian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph, led the 20,000 women in the anti-pass march.

71 days

The duration Lillian Ngoyi spent in solitary confinement after being arrested in 1956.

1990

The year Helen Joseph witnessed the ANC being unbanned and the release of political prisoners.

Soweto

The location where Lillian Ngoyi was restricted to her house while under banning orders.