1956 Women's March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria

South Africa, 1956. On August 9, 1956, 20,000 women of all races, some with babies on their backs, marched from cities, towns, reserves, and villages to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. They carried a petition addressed to the Prime Minister, J.G. Strijdom, demanding the abolition of the pass laws. He was not present to receive them. South Africa, 1956. On August 9, 1956, 20,000 women of all races, some with babies on their backs, marched from cities, towns, reserves, and villages to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. They carried a petition addressed to the Prime Minister, J.G. Strijdom, demanding the abolition of the pass laws. He was not present to receive them. South Africa, 1956. On August 9, 1956, 20,000 women of all races, some with babies on their backs, marched from cities, towns, reserves, and villages to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. They carried a petition addressed to the Prime Minister, J.G. Strijdom, demanding the abolition of the pass laws. He was not present to receive them.