KEY HIGLIGHTS

• South Africa celebrates commemorates Women’s Month and Day in August. The day 9 August marks the Women’s March to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956. On that day up to 20 000 women of all races, class and religion marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the discriminatory pass laws which had restricted the movement of black people in the country. The march was a turning point in the role of women in the struggle for freedom and our society at large.
• South Africa celebrates commemorates the International Day of the World's Indigenous People. In 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year.
• South Africa celebrates commemorates International Youth Day on 12 August each year. Youth around the world are encouraged to organise activities to raise awareness about the situation of youth in their country.
• Commemoration of the African Traditional Medicine Day took place on 31 August. Traditional African medicine is a holistic discipline involving the use of indigenous herbalism combined with aspects of African spirituality.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"I've never regarded women as, in any way, less competent than men."– Nelson Mandela

"Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression."– Nelson Mandela

"The women were courageous, persistent, enthusiastic, indefatigable and their protest against passes set a standard for anti-government protest that was never equaled."– Nelson Mandela

"As a tribute to the legions of women who navigated the path of fighting for justice before us, we ought to imprint in the supreme law of the land, firm principles upholding the rights of women."
– Nelson Mandela

"Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference."– Nelson Mandela