Pretoria: Seventy years after Sophie de Bruyn led 20,000 protestors to the Union Buildings against apartheid, she returned to those same steps to urge the new generation to combat gender-based violence, corruption, and systemic inequality. In her speech commemorating the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March, de Bruyn recalled the determination and courage that drove the women to confront the apartheid government.

According to South African Government News Agency, de Bruyn expressed that the solidarity and triumph over oppression during the march is a spirit she still carries. She emphasized the belief they held that future generations would be free from the oppression they faced. However, she lamented that modern challenges, such as gender-based violence and corruption, continue to plague South African women, casting a "painful paradox" over their hard-won freedom.

De Bruyn highlighted the ongoing issues women face, including being "prisoners in their own homes" due to gender-based violence, and called on authorities to honor past sacrifices by eradicating corruption and protecting women and children. She urged leaders to adopt honest and accountable leadership and called on citizens, especially women, to use their votes, voices, and unity as weapons against current societal ills.

Nobel Peace Laureate Malala Yousafzai also spoke at the event, praising the courage of the 1956 marchers and subsequent generations. She acknowledged the risks black South African women faced under apartheid and emphasized the legacy of courage they left behind. Yousafzai expressed her desire to learn from South Africa's history of resilience and organization.

The event preceded President Cyril Ramaphosa's address under the theme "Empowered Women, Empower Nations," coinciding with other significant anniversaries in South Africa's history. Ramaphosa previously called on the nation to build a future envisioned by their forebears, holding the anniversaries as milestones of freedom and unity.