Historical Organization
Federation of South African Women
Federation of South African Women
Also known as: FEDSAW
Details
Organization Timeline
The Federation of South African Women is founded
📅 17 April 1954Women from different racial and political organizations formed FEDSAW and adopted a Women's Charter demanding political, economic and social equality.
Women establish FEDSAW across racial divisions
📅 17 April 1954The Federation of South African Women was launched in Johannesburg as a broad organization bringing women together across racial divisions. Its organizing connected opposition to apartheid with...
Women march against passes in Pretoria
📅 27 October 1955About 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 1956Women 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.
Women march to the Union Buildings against pass laws
📅 9 August 1956Thousands of women from different communities marched to Pretoria’s Union Buildings against extending pass controls to African women. Organizers connected women’s lives and work to opposition to...
Helen Joseph becomes the first person placed under house arrest under the Sabotage Act
📅 13 October 1962The 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.