It is only right to highlight women who have been in beast mode in sports, beauty pageants, arts, and academia. They have played their part to reset our society, our culture and the world. What better way, than to honour them during women’s month?
The 1956 Women’s march (always honouring)
We cannot start without acknowledging the women who have made this month possible. In 1956, 20 000 women gathered to march against pass laws in South Africa. The historic march of 9 August 1956 was not only to protest the brutal pass laws but to march against the patriarchal, classist and racist society brought to South Africa during the apartheid governance system. The women of 1956 paved the way for many of us to fight for women’s voices to be heard.
Earlier this month, and two weeks leading to Women’s day, President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the women of 1956 stating that they were leaders and a great examples of role models that younger generation want to be.
They were trailblazers, as are you. They were pioneers, as are you. They were role-models, as are you.
They were symbols of resilience and determination, as are you.
— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 27, 2022
However, women of today continue to take the battle leading a different fight by taking up space in every aspect. Here are women who have made history so far, this year:
Thuso Mbedu (Woman King)
This South African starlet who will be starring alongside Oscar winner Viola Davis in their upcoming film Woman King, the historical sequel tells a true story of the Agoji, a real-life army of women warriors who defended the powerful West African Kingdom of Dahomey for centuries, but their history was largely forgotten.
Banyana Banyana: (WAFCON 2022)
The newly crowned champions at the 14th edition of Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco last month, Banyana Banyana are on a strike of rejoicing as they made history winning against Morocco 2 -1. Banyana Banyana had been denied in five previous Women’s Afcon finals in 1995, 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018 but with perseverance, they tasted glory for the first time in the history of the national senior women’s team at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Tatjana Schoenmaker and Kaylan Corbett (2022 Common Wealth, Gold Medalist)
Picture: Twitter/@marclottering
On 31 July 2022, Tatjana Schoenmaker and Kaylene Corbett won gold and bronze medals in the women’s 200m-breaststroke final at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, achieving a historic victory for South African swimming.
They are the first two female swimmers to medal in the same event at the Commonwealth Games since 1994. Schoenmaker won the 200m-breaststroke in 2:21.92, with Corbett finishing third in 2:23.65.
Lalela Mswane (Miss Supranational 2022)
Miss 2021 South Africa and currently Miss supranational 2022 Lalela Mswane, made South Africa proud by being the first-ever black woman to be crowned in the title within the beauty pageant’s 13-year existence. The pageant took place on the 15th of July 2022, a three-hour finale at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheatre in Nowy Sącz, Poland.
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