Media Statement: Working-Class Women Walk The Talk
9 August 2020
For Immediate Release
In commemoration of Women’s Day, the Community Organising Working Group
(COWG), an affiliate of the C-19 Peoples’ Coalition, has organized Working-Class Women
Walk the Talk. This will be on 10 August at Constitution Hill.
The Walk will be single file around Constitution Square symbolizing the limited exercise
afforded those held at the Women’s Prison. It will provide an opportunity to
contemplate the hardships of apartheid and the role played by women leaders. We will
be thinking about Albertina Sisulu, Winnie Mandela, Barbara Hogan, Fatima Meer and
others who were held in the prison, and we will be thinking about Lilian Ngoyi, Helen
Joseph, Sophia Williams-de Bruyn and Rahima Moosa who led the iconic Pretoria walk
in 1956. We will also be remembering male prisoners held at the prison, when it was
still known as The Fort, including Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo.
In 1956, the famous four women delivered a document called What Women Demand. 64
years later, delegates from working-class communities and other organizations will
have an opportunity to Talk briefly to demands raised in community meetings held on 9
August.
‘Walk the talk’ is also recognition that when we say ‘wear masks’ and practice ‘physical
distancing’, we do these things. The event will be well marshalled, with physical
distancing of at least 1.5m. The COWG has been doing this since the declaration of the
state of disaster.
As is typical in prisons, the walk, our exercise, will last an hour. Fortunately, for us, it
will be possible to leave after the 60 minutes are over. Through our struggles, we won
the right to voice our views and opinions.
Issued by the Community Organising Working Group of the C19 People’s Coalition
For information and interviews:
Simphiwe Zwane- 0729448250
Lebogang Malebo – 0711316448
Tshidi Madisakoane- 0845558517
Please check our social media pages:
– Instagram: @C19Community
– Facebook: C-19 Community Organising Working Group – Gauteng
