On 9 August 1956, thousands of women marched on the Union Buildings to demand their right to freedom of movement. They were committed to ensuring that society at the time did not become even more oppressive than it already was through the extension of the pass laws to women. On Women’s Day and during the month of August we remember them for their courage, sacrifice and brave actions. Since that historic march, and in particular over the past 21 years of democracy, many doors have been opened for women. But, even though we have seen great strides in the advancement of women, much more still needs to be done to transform our society to the egalitarian one we would like to see.

At the University of Pretoria, we are proud of our commitment to enhancing access to higher education for women. During Women’s Month 2015 we celebrate the University’s contribution to ensuring that South Africa progresses towards a gender balanced society. In 2014, 60.37% of the total number of graduates at UP were women. On Women’s Day we salute all the women who stood up for their rights in 1956 and all those who have made sacrifices over the years to open doors for the women of today. We thank them for inspiring us to change the world. At UP, we have many pioneering women who are contributing to making South Africa a better place for all who live in it. We salute all UP women on this Women’s Day as we do the women of 1956.