Jacob Zuma praises women on Women's Day

Speaking during official celebrations at the Union Buildings on Tuesday, president Zuma unveiled the statues of frou leaders of the 1956 march.

South Africa celebrated the 60th anniversary of the women's march to the Union Buildings against the apartheid pass laws and paid tribute to one of these surviving stalwarts Sophie du Bruyn.

Zuma paid tribute to all women who played a role in shaping South Africa's democracy.

He said the 1956 march had a major impact.

"We recognise many others who dared the apartheid state in 1956 and marched to the Union Buildings. And also women in every part of the country who contributed in various ways to the freedom we enjoy today," Zuma said.

Addressing the large crown, one of the leaders of the 1956 march, Sophie de Bruyn, said their generation did what they could and that it was now up to the youth to take women forward.

"And it is for the youth to take the baton that we have already handed over to them...and to fight the ills and injustices in our country, right now," de Bruyn said.

She also acknowledged the increase in abuse and violence against women and children as well as the wage gap between the rich and the poor.

"It should not take us so many years to transform through liberation in our country - for the future that we want," she concluded.