The Black Sash demonstrated daily against the Apartheid Government outside the City Hall, Johannesburg.

Updated: 24 Jul 2019

The Black Sash demonstrated daily against the Apartheid Government outside the City Hall, Johannesburg. In 1955 a small group of white middle-class women who were predominantly English-speaking formed an organization called The Women's Defence of the Constitution League . Founder members were Jean Sinclair, Ruth Foley, Elizabeth McLaren, Tertia Pybus, Jean Bosazza and Helen Newton-Thompson. The organisation grew into an avenue for liberal women to oppose government policies by means of marches, convoys, demonstrations and vigils. It came to be called the Black Sash because the women wore black sashes over one shoulder as they stood to demonstrate against discriminatory legislation.

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South African History Online. (2011, March 28). The Black Sash demonstrated daily against the Apartheid Government outside the City Hall, Johannesburg.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/I-0051602

South African History Online (2011) 'The Black Sash demonstrated daily against the Apartheid Government outside the City Hall, Johannesburg.', South African History Online, 28 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/I-0051602 (Accessed: 16 September 2026).

South African History Online, The Black Sash demonstrated daily against the Apartheid Government outside the City Hall, Johannesburg. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/I-0051602, (accessed 16 September 2026).

"The Black Sash demonstrated daily against the Apartheid Government outside the City Hall, Johannesburg.." South African History Online, 28 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/I-0051602. Accessed 16 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Black Sash demonstrated daily against the Apartheid Government outside the City Hall, Johannesburg.." South African History Online. March 28, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/I-0051602.