Cape Town — Women from around the country will on Friday descend on the Old Assembly in Cape Town to take part in the Women's Parliament.

Participants and observers to attend this event would include some of the 20 000 women, such as Martha Mahlangu who braved the brutality of the then government and marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to oppose the imposition of pass laws by the apartheid government.

Ms Mahlangu is the mother of the late member of the former Umkhonto WeSizwe underground operative Solomon Mahlangu.

Briefing the media today National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said the main purpose of the occasion was to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the South African Constitution and the celebration of 10 years of democracy.

The event also forms part of the programme planned for celebrations of Women's Month.

"What we thought we needed to do is to use the opportunity of Women's Month in terms of the role of oversight of parliament to say, have we made any progress based on what the Constitution enjoins us to do," Speaker Mbete said.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde said the event would create a platform for ordinary South African women to say how the 10 years of democracy had impacted on their lives.

She said these women would also reflect on the role they had played on an international level.

"We have looked at a number of women who will in small groups give testimonies as individuals on how they have benefited, achieved even the challenges that they have met in these 10 years," she said.

Ms Mahlangu-Nkabinde said these women would reflect on the legislative reforms made particularly on women and children as well as how it had affected them.

Themes for discussion on Friday include violence against women, labour, land reform and housing, economic empowerment and the regional, continental and international role of South African women.

These would encompass the role of women in law making, how parliament could contribute in changing women's lives for the better and setting parliament's priorities for women for the next 10 years.

National Council of Provinces Chairperson Joyce Kgoali said it was imperative for events such as this to take place annually.

"It should not be a once off programme that is going to happen during August because it is Women's Month.

"We want to launch this programme until we think we are satisfied and the people of South Africa, women in particular are satisfied that work has been done," she said.

Speaker Mbete will also host a debate on the Pan African Women Organisation at the National Assembly on 24 August.