National Women's Day South Africa 2026

National Women's Day South Africa 2026 is set to take place on Sunday, 9 August 2026 in South Africa, giving South Africans a chance to enjoy a key public holiday.

National Women's Day is a significant public holiday in South Africa that will take place on Sunday, August 9, 2026,. It commemorates the historic march of approximately 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in 1956. These courageous women, representing all races and led by figures like Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, famously protested against the apartheid government's discriminatory pass laws, which severely restricted the movement and freedoms of Black South Africans. This powerful demonstration of unity and resistance symbolises the strength and resilience of women in the fight for equality and justice. Today, the day honours the pivotal role women played in the liberation struggle and highlights the ongoing efforts towards gender equality, women's empowerment, and addressing critical issues such as gender-based violence. As August 9th, 2026 falls on a Sunday, the public holiday will be officially observed on the following Monday, August 10th, allowing for nationwide participation in various events, dialogues, and campaigns organized to celebrate women's achievements and advocate for their continued progress in all spheres of South African society.