Answer:
During the 1950s and 1960s in South Africa, women played a crucial role in the struggle against apartheid and the violation of human rights. Women organized and participated in a variety of protests, demonstrations, and other forms of resistance, often facing significant risks and consequences for their actions.
One of the most well-known groups of women activists during this time was the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), which was formed in 1954. FEDSAW brought together women of all races and backgrounds to advocate for the rights of women and to fight against apartheid. The organization played a key role in organizing the Women's March to Pretoria in 1956, which saw thousands of women from across the country gather to protest against the Pass Laws, which required black South Africans to carry identification documents at all times.
Other women's organizations, such as the Black Sash, also played important roles in the struggle against apartheid. The Black Sash was a white women's organization that advocated for human rights and opposed apartheid policies. They used nonviolent forms of resistance, such as wearing black sashes to symbolize their opposition to the government, and monitored court cases and detention centers to document human rights abuses.
Individual women also played important roles in the struggle against apartheid. For example, Winnie Mandela, the wife of Nelson Mandela, was a prominent activist in her own right, and was arrested and imprisoned multiple times for her activities. Other notable women activists during this time included Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, and Albertina Sisulu.
Overall, South African women played a crucial role in the struggle against apartheid and the violation of human rights during the 1950s and 1960s. Their activism and resistance helped to bring attention to the injustices of the apartheid system and paved the way for the eventual dismantling of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic South Africa.