Note to Editors: Attached please find soundbites in English here and Afrikaans here by Leanne De Jager MPL.
During his 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA), Premier Panyaza Lesufi pledged that Mrs Sophia ‘Sophie’ Williams-De Bruyn, the last surviving leader of the historic 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings, would be honoured across Gauteng this year. Yet, when the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (GDSACR) tabled its 2026/27 Budget Vote, there was no single mention of Mrs Sophia Williams-De Bruyn nor any indication of how Premier Lesufi’s promise would be fulfilled.
The most meaningful honour the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) could pay Mrs Williams-De Bruyn is to finally open the Women’s Living Heritage Monument at Sammy Marks Square. Over R200 million in public funds were spent to celebrate the courage and sacrifices of South African women, the monument has remained closed due to the Lesufi-led government’s failure to obtain a fire safety compliance certificate.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on Premier Lesufi to personally intervene and ensure that all outstanding compliance requirements are finalised without further delay. He must provide Gauteng residents with a specific date for the opening of the Women’s Living Heritage Monument and fulfil his commitment to honour Mrs Williams-De Bruyn.
Last week, the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, repeated the same explanation that has been offered to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for over a year: the monument will open once construction is complete and the required compliance certificate has been secured. Gauteng residents have been hearing this excuse for far too long, yet there is still no clear deadline or accountability. How much longer must they wait?
This prolonged delay dishonours the women whose courage and sacrifices the monument was built to commemorate. Additionally, the continued closure of the monument is depriving the people of Tshwane access to economic opportunities. As a landmark celebrating South Africa’s rich history of women’s activism, the monument has the potential to attract visitors, boost local tourism, support local businesses, and create jobs. Instead, it remains a symbol of government inaction and another broken promise.
The Democratic Alliance is the only party committed to preserving Gauteng’s heritage while ensuring it delivers real benefits for its people. A DA-led Gauteng government would have expedited the operationalisation of the Women’s Living Heritage Monument, honouring the bravery of women like Mrs Williams-De Bruyn. This monument would serve as a catalyst to boost tourism, supporting local businesses and creating jobs.