In South Africa, Woman’s Day commemorates 9 August 1956 when South African women participating in a national march petitioned against pass laws.

The pass law meant legislation that required (Black) people to carry a document on them to ‘prove’ that they were allowed to enter a ‘white area’.

Woman’s Day commemorates the role women played in building South Africa; This is a day for all to gather and celebrate National Woman’s Day in and around Cape Town.

If you are looking for things to do on Woman’s Day in Cape Town, CapeTownMagazine.com has come up with the following overview of events taking place this upcoming Woman’s Day:

Woman’s Day at the V&A Waterfront:

Each year at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre in Cape Town, people get together to use the day to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of women not only from South Africa but from all over the world.

Date: 9 August 2008
Venue: V&A Waterfront
Location: Cape Town

National Woman’s Day at Iziko Museum:

Public lecture at the Iziko South African Museum to commemorate National Women’s Day, celebrated on 09 August this year is the Iziko Slave Lodge exhibition, ‘Celebrating Women’, is of particular relevance to Women’s Day which highlights the role of women in the struggle against Apartheid.

Date: 7-9 August 2008
Venue: Iziko Museum
Location: Cape Town

Celebrating Women ‘Our Triumphs and our tears’ and, ‘Malibongwe: Let us praise the women’:

The pivotal role that women played in the struggle for democracy has only recently been recognised. For most of the last century, independent, resourceful and determined female leaders and their followers were on the march demanding their rights.

Their continued defiance in the face of persecution and hardship challenged the myth of female subservience. And in the course of the struggle against Apartheid, a new gender consciousness emerged among South African women.

This forms the background to two exhibitions which have opened, in partnership with the Apartheid Museum, highlighting the role of women in the struggle against Apartheid.

‘Malibongwe: Let us praise the women’

Date: until 31 August 2008
Venue: Iziko Museum
Location: Cape Town

Cape Town's Largest Belly Dance Show:

The Feminine Divine Oriental Dance Studio stages their annual studio show on 9th August, Woman's Day, and our theme this year is 'Celebrating a diversity of women!

They have a cast of approx 150 belly dancers ranging from absolute beginners to advanced and professional performers!

Due to their 3 previous shows being a sell out success, they have added a matinee show to the program this year! All proceeds generated from the matinee show on Woman’s Day will be donated to a charity of the studio’s choice!

Tickets for the belly dancing show in Cape Town’s Bergvliet are on sale now, but hurry, they sell out fast! There will be no tickets on sale at the door.

Get your tickets through the studio by contacting +27(0)21 712 1913

Belly Dancing Show Details:

Date: 9 August 2008
Venue: Bergvliet High School Hall
Location: Bergvliet, Cape Town
Time: 19:00 – 21:30 Matinee: Saturday 9th August at 2:30pm. Tickets: R20.
Evening show: Sat 9th Aug at 7pm. R35 adults & R25 kids /15.

Other special way’s to celebrate Women’s Day in South Africa is for example to spend a night in a Township B&B in Cape Town owned by South African women.

Spend the day with Thope Lekau of, Vicky’s B&B, or at Ma Lebo’s B&B, all in Khayelitsha, or of course Ma Neo's in Langa.

An overnight stay at one of Cape Town’s excellent Township Stays, having dinner and enjoying a fantastically ‘normal’ evening is an experience that might leave you refreshed, relaxed and inspired.


Don’t forget to read more on Woman's Day and have a look at some of the great Woman's Day Celebrations in Cape Town:

Woman's Day Party at Bang Bang Club
Woman's Day Party at Club Fiction
The History of Women's Day


Also read more in our article on Woman's Day

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