Preparations are under way for the estimated 10 000 people expected to descend on Pretoria on Tuesday in celebration of the 1956 Women’s Day march.
Tshwane metro police said on Monday large parts of the city around the Union Buildings will be closed from early on Tuesday morning to facilitate the crowds and the 105 buses bringing groups to Pretoria.
A large contingent of women left Cape Town on Monday in order to participate in the re-enactment of the historic march on the Union Buildings by 20 000 people.
Protesting against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act of 1950, which required women to carry pass books, the Federation of South African Women organised a march to the Union Buildings on August 9 1956 to hand over a petition against the extension of pass laws.
About 20 000 women joined in the march, singing ”Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo [You have struck the women, you have struck a rock]”.
Deputy President Jacob Zuma is expected to receive the marchers at the Union Buildings, in the absence of President Thabo Mbeki who is on an official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The march is the culmination of a month of activities dedicated to women.
Metro police spokesperson Luné van Heerden said Vermeulen Street will be closed between Hamilton and Zeiderberg streets to accommodate parking for buses.
Zeiderberg Street between Church and Leyds streets will also be closed between 7am and 4pm.
”Wessels and Church streets will also be closed from 8.30am to noon for the procession to the Union Buildings,” she said, adding that pointsmen will be on duty.
She warned that morning and afternoon peak-hour traffic will be affected.
Police spokesperson Captain Piletji Sebola said police units will be teaming up with the metro police to ensure all goes smoothly.
”We will be on the look-out for any sign of hooliganism and our regular patrols will be backed up with members from the area crime combating unit,” he said. — Sapa