As Women’s Month draws to a close in South Africa, we look at the documentary, Strike a Rock, the name of which references the famous apartheid resistance song that has become synonomous with the1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Harking back to the days of apartheid, the saying ‘Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo‘ (you strike the women, you strike the rock) has been used to rouse the populace by the Marikana women’s group, Sikhala Sonke, that was formed in the weeks following the Marikana massacre of 2012.

The women are fighting for better living conditions in Marikana, and for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing negotiations. In terms of their social obligations, Lonmin committed to building 5500 houses, but at the time of filming had completed just three.
Strike a Rock was the recipient of the Audience Award for Best South African Documentary at the recent Encounters Film Festival. Click here to watch a trailer of this emotive film that tells the story of the women behind the scenes of one of South Africa’s most heart breaking moments in recent history.
Image courtesy of www.cfms.uct.ac.za