Women’s Right to Vote in South Africa / April 27, (1994)
National Women’s Day / August 9
When did women get the right to vote in South Africa?
Women’s Right to Vote in South Africa: A Racially Divided Journey to Equality
The history of women’s suffrage in South Africa differs significantly from many other countries due to its complex intertwining with racial politics and the apartheid system. While white women gained the vote relatively early compared to some other nations, Black, Coloured, and Indian women were denied this right for decades longer. This racially stratified approach to enfranchisement reflects South Africa’s unique historical context and illustrates how gender equality movements can be complicated by other social divisions. This article explores the multifaceted journey toward women’s voting rights in South Africa, highlighting key dates, influential figures, and how this history connects to National Women’s Day.
The First Milestone: May 19, 1930
The first significant date in South African women’s suffrage was May 19, 1930, when the Women’s Enfranchisement Act (Act No. 18 of 1930) was passed under the government of Prime Minister James Barry Munnik Hertzog. This legislation granted voting rights to white women over the age of 21. The Act received royal assent on May 19 and came into effect on June 11, 1930.
However, this milestone was profoundly limited by its racial exclusivity. The 1930 Act specifically enfranchised only white women, excluding the majority of South African women who were Black, Coloured (mixed-race), or of Indian descent. This racially selective approach to women’s suffrage underscores how gender rights in South Africa were inseparable from the country’s racial politics.
The first election in which white women participated was held on May 17, 1933.
The Long Wait for Universal Women’s Suffrage
The path to universal women’s suffrage in South Africa was extraordinarily protracted, spanning more than six decades after white women gained the vote:
Apartheid Era (1948-1994)
During the apartheid era, the racial stratification of political rights was further entrenched:
- 1951: Coloured voters (including women) in Cape Province were removed from the common voters’ roll and placed on a separate roll with limited representation
- 1956: The representation of Coloured voters was abolished entirely
- 1959: Limited self-government was established in homelands (Bantustans), where some Black women could vote in local elections, but these structures were designed to reinforce segregation rather than provide meaningful political representation
Democratic Transition
Only with the dismantling of apartheid did universal women’s suffrage finally become reality:
- April 27, 1994: The first democratic, non-racial elections were held in South Africa. For the first time, all adult South African women, regardless of race, could vote in national elections. This date marks the true beginning of universal women’s suffrage in South Africa.
The 1994 election saw millions of Black, Coloured, and Indian women voting for the first time, alongside their male counterparts who had also been disenfranchised. The historic election resulted in Nelson Mandela becoming South Africa’s first democratically elected president.
Key Figures in South Africa’s Women’s Suffrage Movement
Early White Women’s Suffrage Advocates
Olive Schreiner (1855-1920): Although better known as a novelist and author of “The Story of an African Farm,” Schreiner was also an early feminist who advocated for women’s rights. Critically, she opposed the racially exclusive approach to women’s suffrage and argued that the franchise should be extended to all women regardless of race—a position that put her at odds with many white suffragists of her time.
Mary Fitzgerald (1885-1960): An Irish-born labor activist and suffragist who became an important voice for women’s political rights in early 20th century South Africa. Known as “Pickhandle Mary” for her role in labor strikes, she advocated for both women’s suffrage and workers’ rights.
Lady Gladys Steyn: Wife of former Orange Free State president Martinus Steyn, she used her social position to advocate for women’s enfranchisement and was president of the Women’s National Union.
Emily Hobhouse (1860-1926): While primarily known for exposing the conditions in British concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War, Hobhouse also advocated for women’s rights, including suffrage.
Women’s Resistance to Apartheid
A different kind of women’s political activism emerged in response to apartheid restrictions, as Black, Coloured, and Indian women fought not just for suffrage but for fundamental human rights:
Charlotte Maxeke (1874-1939): One of South Africa’s first Black female graduates and founder of the Bantu Women’s League in 1918 (which later became the ANC Women’s League). Though her activism predated apartheid, she laid crucial groundwork for women’s political organization.
Lillian Ngoyi (1911-1980): A prominent anti-apartheid activist who became the first woman elected to the executive committee of the African National Congress. She was one of the leaders of the historic 1956 Women’s March.
Helen Joseph (1905-1992): A founding member of the Federation of South African Women and one of the leaders of the 1956 Women’s March against pass laws. As a white woman, she dedicated herself to fighting the injustices of apartheid alongside Black women.
Albertina Sisulu (1918-2011): A nurse, anti-apartheid activist, and wife of Walter Sisulu. She endured banning orders and imprisonment while continuing to fight for equality and democracy. She was one of the organizers of the 1956 Women’s March.
Fatima Meer (1928-2010): An important voice for Indian women’s rights and against apartheid, she was a sociologist, writer, and activist who faced banning orders and detention for her political work.
Organizations in the Struggle
Several organizations played important roles in advocating for women’s political rights:
Women’s Enfranchisement Association of the Union (WEAU)
Founded in 1911, the WEAU was the main organization advocating for white women’s suffrage. It unified various provincial suffrage societies. The organization focused narrowly on obtaining the vote for white women, often explicitly excluding concerns about racial equality.
Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW)
Formed in 1954, FEDSAW brought together women across racial lines to fight against apartheid and for women’s rights. The organization’s 1954 Women’s Charter called for voting rights, equal opportunities, and fair labor practices for all women regardless of race.
ANC Women’s League
Originating as the Bantu Women’s League in 1918 and later becoming the ANC Women’s League in 1943, this organization became a crucial vehicle for Black women’s political mobilization. Though initially focused on specific issues like passes for women, it evolved into a broad-based movement for women’s political rights within the larger liberation struggle.
The 1956 Women’s March and National Women’s Day
Perhaps the most iconic moment in South African women’s political activism was the Women’s March of August 9, 1956. On this day, approximately 20,000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the extension of pass laws to Black women. Pass laws severely restricted the movement of Black South Africans, requiring them to carry pass books and limiting where they could live and work.
Led by figures like Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, the women delivered petitions with over 100,000 signatures to Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom’s office. The marchers stood in silent protest for 30 minutes, then sang “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (“God Bless Africa,” later part of the national anthem) before dispersing.
The women’s famous slogan was “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo!” (Zulu for “You strike a woman, you strike a rock”), signifying their strength and determination. Though the march did not immediately change the pass laws, it demonstrated women’s political power and became a symbol of women’s resistance to apartheid.
National Women’s Day as Official Holiday
After the democratic transition, the new South African government established August 9 as National Women’s Day to commemorate the 1956 Women’s March. The holiday was officially declared in 1994, and the first celebration took place in 1995.
National Women’s Day honors not only the specific protest of 1956 but also the broader role women played in the struggle against apartheid and for democracy. The day is marked by various commemorative events, cultural celebrations, and discussions about ongoing challenges facing women in contemporary South African society.
In 2006, on the 50th anniversary of the Women’s March, a monument to the march leaders was unveiled at the Union Buildings. The holiday serves as both a tribute to past activism and a reminder of continuing work toward gender equality.
Constitutional Recognition of Gender Equality
The 1996 Constitution of South Africa, adopted after the transition to democracy, explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender and establishes equality as a foundational value. Section 9 of the Constitution guarantees equal protection and benefit of the law to all people and prohibits both direct and indirect discrimination.
The Constitution also established the Commission for Gender Equality as one of the “Chapter 9 institutions” designed to strengthen constitutional democracy. This body is tasked with promoting, protecting, and monitoring gender equality in South Africa.
Women in Post-Apartheid Politics
Since achieving universal suffrage in 1994, women’s political representation in South Africa has increased significantly:
- The first democratic Parliament in 1994 had 27.7% women representatives, placing South Africa among the top countries globally for women’s representation
- By 2019, women’s representation in Parliament had risen to 46%, making South Africa one of the world’s leaders in parliamentary gender balance
- In 1994, two women were appointed to the Cabinet; by 2019, almost half of Cabinet ministers were women
- In 2018, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma became the first woman to seriously contest the presidency of the ANC (and by extension, potentially the presidency of the country)
Notable women in post-apartheid politics include:
Frene Ginwala: The first Speaker of the democratic National Assembly (1994-2004)
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela: Prominent anti-apartheid activist who served as a member of Parliament after 1994
Baleka Mbete: Former Deputy President and Speaker of the National Assembly
Thuli Madonsela: Public Protector from 2009 to 2016, whose investigations helped strengthen South African democracy
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma: Who has held several ministerial positions and chaired the African Union Commission
Contemporary Challenges
Despite constitutional guarantees and high levels of representation in politics, South African women continue to face significant challenges:
- Gender-based violence remains pervasive, with South Africa having one of the world’s highest rates of sexual assault
- Economic inequality persists, with women earning on average less than men and facing higher unemployment rates
- Rural women face particular challenges regarding access to resources, land ownership, and basic services
- Intersecting inequalities based on race, class, and gender continue to shape women’s lived experiences
National Women’s Day and Women’s Month (August) have increasingly focused on these contemporary issues while honoring the historical struggle. Government campaigns often address gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and continued efforts toward substantive equality rather than merely formal legal equality.
Comparative International Context
South Africa’s women’s suffrage history differs from many other countries due to its racial stratification:
- New Zealand: First country to grant women’s suffrage (1893)
- United Kingdom: Gradual extension of suffrage (1918 and 1928)
- United States: White women gained federal suffrage in 1920; many Black women effectively disenfranchised until the Voting Rights Act of 1965
- South Africa: White women (1930); universal women’s suffrage (1994)
The 64-year gap between white women’s suffrage and universal women’s suffrage in South Africa is among the longest such gaps globally, reflecting how deeply racial divisions affected the country’s political development.
Legacy and Significance
The fragmented history of women’s suffrage in South Africa offers important insights into how gender rights intersect with other forms of social division. While the achievement of women’s voting rights is often presented as a singular event in national histories, South Africa’s experience demonstrates how enfranchisement can be stratified along racial lines.
Several key lessons emerge from this history:
- Intersectionality matters: The experiences of white, Black, Coloured, and Indian women differed dramatically, highlighting the importance of understanding how gender intersects with other social identities
- Solidarity across difference: Organizations like FEDSAW showed the potential for women to work across racial lines even in a deeply divided society
- Symbolic importance of commemoration: National Women’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of women’s political agency and the ongoing nature of the struggle for full equality
- Constitutional provisions: Formal legal equality, while essential, does not automatically translate into substantive equality in daily life
Looking Forward
Women’s suffrage in South Africa followed a unique trajectory deeply shaped by the country’s racial politics. From the partial enfranchisement of white women on May 19, 1930, to the achievement of universal women’s suffrage on April 27, 1994, the struggle spans most of the 20th century and reflects the broader national journey from racial segregation to democracy. National Women’s Day, commemorating the Women’s March of August 9, 1956, serves as a powerful reminder of women’s critical role in resisting oppression and fighting for a more just society. The holiday connects the historical struggle for political rights with ongoing efforts to address contemporary challenges facing South African women. As South Africa continues to work toward the constitutional promise of gender equality, the complex history of women’s suffrage reminds us that true democracy requires not just the extension of formal political rights but also the dismantling of all systems that prevent full and equal participation in society. The women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 were fighting not just for the right to vote but for the right to full citizenship and human dignity—a struggle that continues in new forms today.August 9, National Women’s Day
Women’s Month
South Africa commemorates Women’s Month in August as a tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. The Government of South Africa declared August women’s month and 9 August is celebrated annually as Women’s Day.
› gov.za/news/events/commemorative-events/womens-day
› nationaltoday.com/national-womens-day
April 27, Freedom Day
This Day In History: 27 April 1994 | A Passion to Understand
27 April is Freedom Day in South Africa and it is a public holiday held to commemorate 27 April 1994 when the first democratic general election was held in the country. This election marked the end of Apartheid where the National Party government was replaced by the government of the African National Congress and Nelson Mandela became president.
It was the first ever election in South Africa in which there was universal suffrage which means that all adult South Africans, regardless of race or gender, were allowed to vote.
› passiontounderstand.blogspot.com/this-day-in-history
The South African Vote – The Overview – After 300 Years, Blacks Vote in South Africa
“Today is a day like no other before it,” declared Nelson Mandela, the leader and hero of the blacks’ liberation struggle, who is expected to be elected the first President of the reforming nation, four years after he was freed from 27 years of apartheid imprisonment. “Voting in our first free and fair election has begun. Today marks the dawn of our freedom.”
The 1956 Women’s March, Pretoria, 9 August
‘Strijdom, you have tampered with the women, You have struck a rock.’
So runs the song composed to mark this historic occasion. By the middle of 1956 plans had been laid for the Pretoria march and the FSAW had written to request that JG Strijdom, the current prime minister, meet with their leaders so they could present their point of view. The request was refused.
› sahistory.org.za/1956-womens-march-pretoria-9-august