On May 19 1955, six brave women gathered the support of thousands of other women and marched in protest against the Senate Bill and the Separate Representation of Voters Act, which would finally remove the so-called coloured voters from the common voters’ roll.
They wore black sashes, a symbol of mourning over the death of their constitutional rights.
The organisation, originally named the Women’s Defence of the Constitution League, was renamed the Black Sash as a result and embarked on numerous peaceful campaigns to combat the draconian laws imposed by the apartheid regime.
Women who joined the organisation became pariahs in their communities, despite their peaceful protests. Standing up to a “pig-headed” regime that didn’t think twice about throwing anyone who opposed it into prison, it was a beacon of light during the darkest years of South African history.
At best, Black Sash members were regarded as bored housewives playing activist, getting into some mischief — at worst they faced detention and imprisonment by security police.
For the first 40 years of its existence the organisation resisted apartheid and campaigned against the pass laws, forced removal, detention without trial, inequality and repression.
It opened six offices, offering free paralegal support and services — often dependant on pro bono work and volunteers — assisting mostly women who suffered under the farm laws.
Any movement representing the black majority was deemed illegal and was forced to operate underground or go into exile. Some regional branches were forced to close down because of intimidation.
“Despite all of this, the Black Sash’s energy and determination were a sharp challenge to a government intent on securing its hold on power and entrenching apartheid,” says Marcella Naidoo, national director of the Black Sash.
“The organisation had won the respect of people across the world for its brave but lonely stand within the white community, which, because of the protests by the Black Sash, could never claim ‘we didn’t know’. These women gave witness so that others would know.”
Post-1994 saw the organisation undergoing a few changes.
The transformation years of the Nineties bought new challenges and the organisation focused its attention on the Bill of Rights, arguing for the right to administrative justice to be included.
The Black Sash participated in the consultation process of the Constitution and in 1995 it transformed into an NGO. At present it employs almost 50 staff members, including regional directors, researchers, advocacy workers and paralegals. Contrary to popular belief, the Black Sash isn’t exclusively a women’s organisation, but employs and serves men as well. The board of trustees, however, is female.
The organisation is still fighting inequality, only this time its area of focus is building democracy; from defending civil rights to promoting social justice.
“We use our historic strengths and experience to focus on four key areas of work, namely social security, citizenship, consumer rights and administrative justice.
“We believe that these provide the foundation for a society based on human rights, social and economic justice and inclusive democracy,” says Naidoo. She says the restoration of dignity is the organisation’s main priority at the moment.
“Dignity is a value strongly linked to the notion of justice. Poverty strips people of their dignity as they cannot afford the most basic requirements: food, shelter, healthcare and education. We believe all citizens deserve decent lives now, but there is simply no space for them in our unequally structured economy. In the short term, we want to see a far more aggressive strategy to deal with the millions of unemployed, able-bodied adults in South Africa, while constructing a social security system that provides proper protection to the most vulnerable of South Africans.
“The social security system must also ensure that those who can’t find work are afforded some sort of income or cash grant that prevents them from being reliant on state assistance meant for the most vulnerable. The current limited provision just puts these vulnerable women, men and children at an even greater risk.”
Naidoo also maintains that poverty contributes to gender violence. “Women bear the brunt of poverty as they are primarily responsible for the care of the children, the aged and for making ends meet in most households. Worse, they often are the targets of violence, which stems, in large part, from the frustration felt by men who are denied a meaningful role in society through our appalling levels of unemployment and which is generated by inhuman living conditions. Our challenge to the government to establish a comprehensive social security system is fully informed by our understanding that this is one fundamental prerequisite to establish the wellbeing of women in a life free of violence.”
According to Naidoo, social security, specifically forms of income such as the child support grant and the old age pension, will allow women more autonomy because it is a regular form of income that will allow them to take risks, which could improve their lives. The current social assistance does not, however, allow them to be financially secure and independent.
“We try to combat gender violence by ensuring that vulnerable women have access to some form of financial support for them and their children. We also work in partnership with many other women’s organisations and NGOs around the issue.”
Throughout the past decade, its eight advice offices have had to deal with many problems around poor service delivery and have witnessed its devastating impact on ordinary men and woman.
“Despite all of this we remain committed to ensuring that the constitutional commitment to the right to dignity is respected. The Black Sash is in the business of making human rights real in South Africa,” she says.