Women’s Day is a public holiday celebrating an incident which took place in 1956. Over 20,000 women of all races and ages got together from all over South Africa and marched to the Pretoria Union Buildings to protest against the discriminatory pass laws. Many sang freedom songs including the well-known - 'You strike a woman, you strike a rock'. It seems fitting then, that an open water event should be held to celebrate such an occasion.

It is usually a Swim Series tradition is to give back to the community in a meaningful way. The proceeds of the Woman’s Day swim are donated to The Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association. This is a non-profit organisation catering for the diagnosis, treatment, care, training and sheltered employment for persons with Cerebral Palsy.