For media images and interview requests, please contact: Zikhona Jafta at mediaofficer@iziko.org.za
Iziko Museums of South Africa honours the courage, resilience, leadership and creativity of women who have shaped our nation from 1956 to 2026 and before. South Africa marks 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March. Iziko Museums invites communities across the country to share their [HER]stories – the personal journeys, memories, achievements and legacies of the women who have inspired change in families, workplaces and society.
In honour of this moment in history, Iziko Museums will be hosting Izi-Women – an extraordinary, full-day festival of inspiration, sisterhood, and celebration. Rooted in the fierce legacy of the historic 1956 Women’s March, this day is a powerful tribute to the icons who paved the way, and an electric investment in the resilience, leadership, and brilliant future of the women of today. On Saturday, 8 August 2026, three of Cape Town’s most iconic heritage sites will host a beautifully curated journey of holistic wellness, transformative dialogue, and soul-stirring music.
The Journey commences with a holistic wellness yoga session led by Meghan Pietersen at Iziko South African Museum (Company’s Garden).
09:00 – 10:30 | The Women’s Wellness Experience Admission: Registration
Surrounded by nature, focusing on mindfulness, restorative movement, and radical self-care. Ground yourself and awaken your energy with a rejuvenating outdoor wellness experience.
Pull up a chair for a groundbreaking lunch conversation at Iziko South African Museum.
12:00 – 15:00 | The Women’s Long Table Dialogue Admission: R350
Led by the visionary Prof. Thuli Madonsela, alongside trailblazers Martelize Brink, Babalwa Mbuku, Leigh-Anne Williams and hosted by the incomparable Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo as your MC. Expect to be inspired as we take a deep dive into leadership, innovation, mentorship, and what it truly means to shape the future.
Dance, laugh, and celebrate the beautiful contributions of women at The Old Townhouse Museum.
18:00 – 21:00 | Musical Tribute to Women Admission: R350
Join the charismatic Siphiwo ‘Spitch’ Nzawumbi, for a breathtaking headline performance by award- winning soul star Brian Themba, alongside the mesmerising sounds of Qaqamba, Sama Yoyo, and the powerhouse Nala Collective Jazz ensemble as we end the day with an unforgettable, high-energy musical celebration under the stars.
Mothers, daughters, sisters and girlfriends, treat yourself to the Ultimate VIP Upgrade: The Full Experience Package (R700) and receive an exclusive, *premium Izi-Women 2026 Gift Pack.
To the first 50 guests to secure the Full Experience Package.
Space is strictly limited across all venues. Tickets are available at Webtickets:
https://bit.ly/Iziko_WomensDay2026
On Sunday, 9 August, South Africa’s National Women’s Day, enjoy free entry to selected Iziko Museums as we collectively reflect on the past, celebrate the present and inspire future generations.
Exactly 70 years ago, 20,000 brave women marched to the Union Buildings, proving that collective action can shake the foundations of oppression. This year, under the national theme “Building Resilient Economies for All,” Iziko connects that historic triumph to the modern fight for economic justice. By removing admission fees for the day, Iziko actively dismantles financial barriers to education and culture, ensuring that our shared history remains an accessible resource for everyone.
Visitors can walk in the footsteps of South Africa’s pioneering women by engaging with powerful, thought-provoking exhibitions across Iziko’s flagship sites:
Iziko South African National Gallery: This landmark, internationally collaborative exhibition, led by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, makes Cape Town its third global tour stop. Featuring historical material, contemporary visual art, and multimedia installations, it invites visitors into a critical dialogue on the ongoing impacts of slavery and the relentless, resilient pursuit of black freedom.
Iziko South African Museum: Explore curated displays about science, research, and heritage preservation that have shaped South Africa’s scientific landscape.
Exclusions: Please note that free entry does not include the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Castle of Good Hope, or Groot Constantia. Only the Iziko South African National Gallery (ISANG) and the Iziko South African Museum (ISAM) will be open to the public on Sundays. All other Iziko museum sites will remain closed on this day.
Facts Only
* Contact for media images and interview requests: Zikhona Jafta at mediaofficer@iziko.org.za.
* Iziko Museums of South Africa honours women from 1956 to 2026 and before.
* South Africa marks 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March.
* Izi-Women is a full-day festival of inspiration, sisterhood, and celebration.
* The event occurs on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at three Cape Town heritage sites.
* Morning session: Holistic wellness yoga led by Meghan Pietersen at Iziko South African Museum (Company’s Garden), 09:00 – 10:30.
* Lunch session: The Women’s Long Table Dialogue, 12:00 – 15:00, featuring Prof. Thuli Madonsela, Martelize Brink, Babalwa Mbuku, Leigh-Anne Williams, hosted by Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo.
* Evening session: Musical Tribute to Women, 18:00 – 21:00, featuring Siphiwo ‘Spitch’ Nzawumbi, Brian Themba, Qaqamba, Sama Yoyo, and the Nala Collective Jazz ensemble.
* Tickets for the event are available at Webtickets: https://bit.ly/IzikoWomensDay2026
* Sunday, August 9 is South Africa’s National Women’s Day with free entry to selected Iziko Museums.
* Free entry on Sunday is limited to the Iziko South African National Gallery and the Iziko South African Museum; Planetarium, Castle of Good Hope, and Groot Constantia are excluded from free admission.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The framing positions the event as a dual celebration: honouring historical resistance (the 1956 Women’s March) while simultaneously investing in contemporary leadership and future potential ("resilience, leadership, and brilliant future"). This juxtaposition serves to frame the festival not merely as a commemoration but as an active investment. The structure moves from introspective wellness (yoga) to intellectual dialogue (the Long Table) and culminates in visceral celebration (music), creating a holistic experience intended to foster collective identity and inspiration among women.
The shift to free entry on National Women's Day, combined with the focus on accessible history at the museums, functions as a powerful mechanism for dismantling financial barriers. By linking the historical triumph of the march to the contemporary fight for economic justice under the theme “Building Resilient Economies for All,” the narrative actively repurposes public space and admission fees into a tool for socio-economic equity. This approach attempts to secure cultural access not through donation but through shared historical recognition.
The implicit pattern here is an attempt to create a legacy event that simultaneously addresses memory, dialogue, and action. The inclusion of specific named figures in the dialogue (Madonsela, Brink, Mbuku, Williams) alongside contemporary musical acts suggests an appeal to established authority while celebrating emergent talent. The responsibility lies in examining who benefits from this curated narrative: whether the emphasis on "sisterhood" and "celebration" overshadows the systemic economic realities that still affect many women today, or if it successfully recontextualizes historical struggle as a foundation for present-day agency. What assumptions about access and celebration are being reinforced by limiting free access to specific sites?
Sentinel — Human
This text appears to be an official promotional or press release detailing a structured cultural event with specific logistics and historical context, characteristic of human organizational communication.