Every year on 9 August, South Africans commemorate National Women’s Day, an occasion rooted in one of the most significant acts of peaceful resistance in the country’s history.

While the public holiday provides an opportunity to appreciate the women in our families, workplaces, and communities, its meaning extends far beyond a day of celebration. Women’s Day honours the courage of those who challenged injustice, acknowledges the contribution women continue to make to South African society, and reminds us that the pursuit of equality is ongoing.

Park Hyatt Johannesburg will mark the occasion with two intimate culinary gatherings, followed by an opportunity to extend the experience through a luxurious Women’s Day staycation in Rosebank.

Why South Africa Commemorates Women’s Day on 9 August

Women’s Day has its roots in the historic Women’s March of 9 August 1956.

On that day, approximately 20,000 women travelled to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the apartheid government’s proposed extension of pass laws to African women. These laws restricted movement and required African people to carry documents showing where they were permitted to live, work, or travel.

The march brought together women from different racial, cultural, political, and economic backgrounds. Many travelled considerable distances to participate, demonstrating the strength that could be created through solidarity and collective action.

The protest was led by prominent activists Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. Together with thousands of other participants, they delivered petitions opposing the pass laws to the office of then Prime Minister J. G. Strijdom.

The women then stood in silence for 30 minutes. Their disciplined and peaceful demonstration became one of the defining moments of South Africa’s liberation struggle.

“You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock”

The words most closely associated with the 1956 march are:

Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo.

Commonly translated as “You strike a woman, you strike a rock”, the phrase became a powerful expression of women’s resilience, unity, and determination.

It communicated that women would not remain silent while their freedom, dignity, and ability to support their families were threatened. Over time, the phrase has continued to symbolise the strength of South African women in confronting political oppression, economic exclusion, inequality, and discrimination.

The march was not simply a protest against carrying passes. It was an assertion that women had the right to participate fully in the political, social, and economic life of the country.

The Meaning of Women’s Month Today

South Africa commemorates the entire month of August as Women’s Month, paying tribute to the women who participated in the march. National Women’s Day is observed annually on 9 August.

Women’s Month recognises both the pioneers of the women’s movement and the millions of women whose work continues to shape South Africa.

It is an opportunity to celebrate women working in education, healthcare, science, technology, entrepreneurship, hospitality, agriculture, the arts, community development, and public service. It also acknowledges the often-unrecognised work performed by women in homes, families, and communities.

At the same time, the month encourages honest conversations about the barriers women still encounter. These include gender-based violence, unequal access to economic opportunities, underrepresentation in leadership, poverty, unemployment, and the unequal burden of unpaid care work.

Meaningful commemoration must therefore involve both celebration and reflection. It should recognise how far South Africa has come while encouraging individuals, businesses, and institutions to create safer, fairer, and more inclusive environments for women.

Celebrating Women’s Day at Park Hyatt Johannesburg

Park Hyatt Johannesburg is marking Women’s Month with two refined weekend gatherings presented in partnership with Moët & Chandon and Hendrick’s Gin.

Located in the heart of Rosebank, the intimate 31-room hotel combines Johannesburg’s architectural heritage with contemporary design, locally curated art, landscaped gardens, and personalised hospitality. Its signature Room 32 restaurant centres its dining experience on seasonal ingredients, South African influences, and live-fire cooking.

The hotel is conveniently positioned near Rosebank’s galleries, restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions, including the Keyes Art Mile. Its location also makes it easily accessible from Sandton and other parts of Johannesburg via the Gautrain.

Sunday, 9 August: The Moët & Chandon Women’s Day Brunch

On National Women’s Day, Room 32 will host a leisurely afternoon brunch in the hotel’s serene garden setting.

Presented in partnership with Moët & Chandon, the occasion will feature a menu specially created for Women’s Day, accompanied by live musical performances. Moët & Chandon service will be available for adult guests as part of the experience.

The brunch offers an opportunity for friends, mothers and daughters, colleagues, and loved ones to gather over good food while reflecting on the relationships and achievements that make Women’s Day meaningful.

Rather than a large, crowded celebration, the event is designed as an intimate occasion within the hotel’s peaceful gardens. This makes it well suited to guests looking for a sophisticated yet relaxed way to spend the Sunday afternoon.

Monday, 10 August: The Hendrick’s Gin Botanical High Tea

The celebration continues on Monday, 10 August, with a botanical interpretation of the traditional high tea.

Hosted within the calm of Park Hyatt Johannesburg’s central courtyard, the experience will include tiered pâtisserie, delicate sweet treats, and carefully prepared savoury bites.

The menu will be paired with bespoke Hendrick’s Gin cocktails for adult guests, drawing on the brand’s familiar cucumber and rose botanicals. These ingredients complement the garden-inspired surroundings and provide the theme for the afternoon.

The Botanical High Tea offers a quieter conclusion to the long weekend. Guests can enjoy the courtyard atmosphere, spend time together, and appreciate a contemporary version of a much-loved hospitality tradition.

Turn the Celebration Into a Women’s Day Staycation

Guests who would like to make more of the long weekend can combine either event with the Park Hyatt Johannesburg Staycation Package.

Designed as an effortless urban escape, the package provides an opportunity to step away from everyday routines without leaving Johannesburg. Guests can enjoy the calm of the hotel’s gardens, personalised service, thoughtfully designed accommodation, and dining at Room 32.

The Women’s Day staycation includes:

• Luxurious overnight accommodation at Park Hyatt Johannesburg
• A R450 dining credit per person towards dinner at Room 32

Guests may pair their overnight stay with the Moët & Chandon Women’s Day Brunch on Sunday or the Hendrick’s Gin Botanical High Tea on Monday.

The result is a complete Women’s Month experience that combines dining, relaxation, and time spent with the important women in one’s life.

Remembering the Past While Celebrating the Present

Women’s Day is a celebration, but it is also an important part of South Africa’s collective memory.

The women who marched on 9 August 1956 demonstrated that ordinary people could confront an unjust system through organisation, unity, and courage. Their actions helped create a legacy that continues to inspire new generations.

Seventy years later, Women’s Day invites South Africans to remember that history while celebrating the women who lead businesses, raise families, build communities, challenge inequality, and create change every day.

Whether the long weekend is spent learning more about the Women’s March, supporting women-owned businesses, gathering with loved ones, or enjoying one of Park Hyatt Johannesburg’s intimate culinary events, the heart of the commemoration remains the same: honouring the voices, achievements, strength, and dignity of women.

Hyatt House Rosebank: 28 Tottenham Ave, Rosebank | For Bookings, click here.

Hyatt House Sandton: 125 Ann Crescent, Sandton | For Bookings, click here.