By Tselane Moiloa
ANCWL President Angie Motshekga
BLOEMFONTEIN – About 5000 women are expected to walk the route laid out by Charlotte Maxeke and other activists in 1913 in protest of pass laws for women.
The women will walk from Waaihoek to the city centre on Saturday, August 4, before the official renaming of Maitland Street in honour of the first president of the Bantu Women’s League, which gave way to the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL).
Charlotte Maxeke Street will be the first named after an African woman in the province, which ANCWL president in Free State Sisi Ntombela said should make women proud. The trail-blazing Maxeke has already lent her name to the former Johannesburg Hospital, now known as the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
This is befitting of a woman who has been recorded in history books as the first African woman in the country to graduate from university, after completing a Bachelor of Science degree at Wilbeforce University in the United States.
Maxeke has been described as a staunch anti-apartheid and women’s rights activist who fought against inhumane social conditions for African women.
“This is the first street that will be named after a woman in the province, and that is very important. Not just any woman, but one who fought for the liberation of women and lead a march against pass laws in 1913. Many people think 1956 was the first march by women, but it actually goes back to 1913 in Bloemfontein,” Ntombela said on Tuesday, July 24.
While the march from Waaihoek will be led by the Women’s League, the crowd is expected to be composed of women from different church groups, civic organisations and different political parties.
Ntombela said the renaming, where president Jacob Zuma and premier Ace Magashule will cut the ribbon, will go down as a historical moment for Free State women.
The unveiling will be followed by the fifth annual memorial lecture at the University of the Free State, which embattled basic education minister and ANCWL president Angie Motshekga will attend.
“All these people will be here to celebrate the legacy of a great woman,” Ntombela said, who also used the opportunity to congratulate newly elected African Union commissioner Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on her recent victory.
She dispelled the idea held by some that the AU’s gain is South Africa’s loss.
“There are many women who can do great work in cabinet, and they should also be given the chance. I actually hope the position [of Minister of Human Affairs] will be given to a woman, because we also would not to lose the representation of women in parliament,” she said.
Maxeke was born on 7 April 1874 and died on 16 October 1939. Meanwhile, three streets which were to change will retain their names following a council meeting in Mangaung on Wednesday, July 24.
Paul Kruger Avenue, Haldon Road and Curie Avenue will remain unchanged. They were to be renamed OR Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Govan Mbeki respectively.
“There were certain proposals of names that we were not satisfied with. Given the fact that some of these names have no apartheid history, we engaged with the executive mayor in this regard,” Democratic Alliance caucus leader, Werner Horn said.
“Everyone but the Freedom Front Plus voted for the amendment. However, we also opposed the changing of Eeufees Road to Kenneth Kaunda Road because he is not a local but the ANC did not want to compromise,” Horn added.