Veteran anti-apartheid activist Sophie De Bruyn said women could not fully celebrate Women’s Day while their daily reality remains bleak. De Bruyn was among the leaders of the historic 1956 Women’s March against apartheid pass laws. Together with Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa, De Bruyn led over 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings. De Bruyn said many challenges women faced then still affect women today. The freedom we marched and for what we bled is in reality a painful paradox.