East London - Scores of people have started to arrive at East London's Absa Stadium where President Jacob Zuma is expected to address the national Women's Day event.
Among the dignitaries already at the venue are Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti and other senior provincial government officials.
Zuma, who spent Sunday afternoon assessing service delivery in the former Transkei area, is expected to make his way to the stadium shortly. A praise singer, known as Imbongi, is also standing by to welcome the President and his entourage.
About 500 women have occupied the larger part of stadium with the South African police band lining up the pitch ahead of the singing of the national anthem.
South Africa's commemoration of August as Women's Month is marked by Women's Day when in 1956 women from all races and walks of life marched to the Union Buildings in protest against oppressive pass laws.
This year marks the 54th anniversary of the women's anti-pass march and serves to remind South Africans about women's rights in a country where more than 50 percent of citizens are women.
The theme for this year's event is "Working Together For Equal Opportunities and Progress for all Women. Forward to the Decade of African Women" and coincides with the commencement of the decade of African Women from 2010 to 2020 as declared by the Heads of States of the African Union.
