^ 'ff & W OF THE FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMTM C •• • ‘ .• " ; ■fhe Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) was launched at * on V* 17th o f April ,954. Over 200 e n th u sia st" * e?ega5« ^t'd' women $ problem and promote women's rights*. A Women's Charter, which set' out basic demands for:- creches; equal opportunities for women- eoual Dav" • " S & t j S 5 ^ . d S & ! ,; >nd the remOTS’of ,nf'ux m and 1. Aims of FEDSAW * The conference set out the AIMS of FEDSAW as follows:- ' « r S H er3sb?2??1?be?at?onr*Clal 0r9a"isJt1°"- t0 “"1te — •»* campaions•hCn* bUlld ^ b H n 9 togethep groups through joint. - to oi-ganlse women around day-to-day Issues like rent and electricity O ! ° J k 5 Increases; removals; creches; township , v»v facilities; and-bus fare Increases; < - to link local demands of women to national struggles; struggle** *" f0r in[ society» an<i in the political « _ 2. How did FEDSAW organise? Women were thus organised at two levels: Firstly, to out forward women's demands’ and, secondly, to play an active Elfin t h T « t W campaigns, like the Defiance Campaign). « lv*-roie in the national FEDSAW encouraged women to participate in planning the Conaress of th» Charter10 Worren collected 'women's demands1 fo>* the Freedom That year a 'Congress of Mothers' was organised to discuss wavs in which women could Implement the aims of tne Freedom Charter. ^ H p n r 2 CUSrJhr°U9hOUt US ex1stence " « basic problems women Mjor source o M ^ r T ^ . * ^ " 5* bMrha,ls *«• « jWThe women SX organised for a better life for their children Mw ^ r uca-10n* ,sti“,or of the 'potato b o y c o t t s t o protest against exploitation"of child labcu-S detenoination.* S t r °"9 demonstration of thei> organisational skill and ‘ • FEDSAW spoke out against rent increases which posed an added b-rden for O f l h e 1950s S i n L e?hI9y 8nd nnl!?incy w s Put ^ t o the Anti-Pass Campaigns of the 1950s. Since the government's attempts to introduce oasses for «ITseeU as a’threat^'th* an,i 0r5Jnised campaign against what Z SttTJIig’S'>™n$«?ifety0 mmen- t0e"I’l0>™"t tn“rba" • Women in the OFS marched to magistrates' offices to Drote^t Tr* and Wlnburg, they burnt their passes. In Joha“eSbufg Sly'co ?tad ar?eSt Th_sands of women - In urban and rural areas, in factories ™ d cottmjnities - refused to take out passes. This ™ssive show S? solidarity I led to a march by women in 1955, and a demonstration at the Union Buildings bv 20 000 women on the 9th of August 1956. On this historic day women were led by Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph and Lillian Ngoyi and submitted thousands of petitions to Minister Strydom. The song they sang: * "Strydom, you have struck a rock; , ' ; You shall b/ killed" lives on each year as our National Women's Day sonq. t The strength of FEDSAW arose from its focus on basic problems that affect women. And its ability to reach out to a wide network of women all over South Africa. » It is this struggle that we must carry forward - to realise the demands enshrined in the Women's Charter and the full equality of all women in all spheres of society. 3. How was FEDSAW structured? Many women's groups existed all over the country. These groups were united under the umbrella of the Federation of South African Women. The women belonged to women's groups which fought the day-to-day struggles of women. But, most of the women came from the political organisations of that time, including seme trade unions. These were: the ANCWL, the South African Indian Congress, tne Congress of Democrats and the Coloured People's.Congress. Women from the Food and Canning Workers Union joined in mass. A National Executive was elected at the launching conrererce. An^, m 'each province, a Regional Executive was set up. In this way, the Federation of South African Women could draw on a network of women throughout the country. * HISTORY OF THE FEDERATION or SOUTH AFRICAN WOMFN / the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) was launched at a conference on the 1/th of April 1954. Over 200 enthusiastic delegates met ’to discuss • women s problems and promote women's rights*. A Women's Charter which set • out basic demands for:- crecfjes; equal opportunities for women-’eoual Dav- * riaternity rights and benefits; and the removal of influx control andracial discrimination, was adopted. control ana racial ? i 1. Aims of FEDSAW » * ■ » The conference set out the AIMS of FEDSAW as follows:- ' ™ r r ? ™ 4 bM ? 1 ? b ^ t i o ^ raCial 9r8“1 m 1 e R ’-t8 “"U “ - campai'ans'^80’ bUl1d and brin9 together w o m e n ’s groups through joint - to organise women around day-to-day .issues like rent and electricitv increases; food price increases; removals; creches; township” facilities; ana bus fare increases; - to link local demands of women to national struggles; - to demand an equal role for woren in society, and in the political . struggle. ? 2. How did FEDSAW organise? Women were thus organised at two levels: Firstly, to put forward women s demands’ and, secondly, to play an active.role in the national campaigns, like the Defiance Campaign). national FEDSAW encouraged women to participate in planning the Congress of the People in 1955. Women collected 'women's demands' for the Freedom tnfirtcr. That year a 'Congress of Mothers' was organised to discuss wavs in which women could implement the aims of the Freedom Charter. FEDSAW's focus throughout its existence was on basic problems women experienced. There were protests against municipal beerhalls which stole a major source of incore from women. ' Ie a • FEDSAW demanded proper accomodation for migrant workers, and played a maior role in forming alternate schools during the boycotts of Bantu Education' The w r e n organised for a better life for their children - and the success of the ‘potato boycotts', to protest against exploitation of child labour or. farms, was a strong demonstration of their organisational skill and determination. FEDSAW spoke out against rent increases which posed an added burden for ^ *he e tn* : gy and milirancy *as Put int° the Anti-Pass Campaigns the 1950s. Since the government's attempts to introduce passes for women in 1952, FEDSAW led a concerted and organised campaign acainst what anaTnd totoe?hpSiiJitJrn the unity of f families. V 0 - ^ e safety of to employment in urDan areas, Women in the OFS marched to magistrates' offices to protest. In Zeerust and Winburg they burnt their passes. In Johannesburg they courted'arrest Thousands of women - in urban and rural areas, in factories and conmumties - refused to take out passes. This massive show of solidarity led to a march by women in 1955, and a demonstration at the Union Buildings by 20 000 women on the 9th of August 1956. On this historic day women were led by Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph and Lillian Ngoyi and subnitted thousands of petitions.to Minister Strydom. The song they sang: "Strydom, you have struck a rock; YOtt shall be killed" lives on each year as our National Women's Day sonq. The strength of FEDSAW arose from its focus on basic problems that affect women. And its ability to reach out to a wide network of women all ove- South Africa. • r i It is this struggle that we must carry forward - to realise the demands enshrined in the Women's Charter and the full equality of all women in all spheres of society. 3. How was FEDSAW structured? C Many w o m e n ’s groups existed all over the country. These groups were uni ted under the umbrella of the Federation of South African Women. * The women belonged to women's groups which fought the day-to-day struggles of women. But, most of the women came from the political organisations of that time, including some trade unions. These were: the ANCWL, the South African Indian Congress, the Congress of Democrats and the Coloured People's-.Congress. Women from the Food and Canning Workers Union joined in mass. A “National Executive was elected at the launching conference. Aid, in each province, a Regional-Executive was set up. In this way, the Federation of South African Women could draw on a network of women throughout the country. Collection Number: AK2117 DELMAS TREASON TRIAL 1985 - 1989 PUBLISHER: Publisher:-Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand Location:-Johannesburg ©2012 LEGAL NOTICES: Copyright Notice: All materials on the Historical Papers website are protected by South African copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published in any format, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Disclaimer and Terms of Use: Provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein, you may download material (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal and/or educational non-commercial use only. 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