Historical Organization

Federation of South African Women

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South Africa 📍 South Africa

Federation of South African Women

Also known as: FEDSAW

Details

Organization Timeline

The Federation of South African Women is founded

📅 17 April 1954

Women from different racial and political organizations formed FEDSAW and adopted a Women's Charter demanding political, economic and social equality.

Women march against passes in Pretoria

📅 27 October 1955

About 2,000 women of different racial backgrounds marched to the Union Buildings against the planned extension of pass laws to African women.

Twenty thousand women march on the Union Buildings

📅 9 August 1956

Women delivered petitions opposing passes for African women and stood in disciplined silence before singing the protest song later associated with the phrase: You strike a woman, you strike a rock.

Helen Joseph becomes the first person placed under house arrest under the Sabotage Act

📅 13 October 1962

The restriction isolated Joseph from political and social life and illustrated how banning and house arrest targeted women as well as men in the liberation movement.