Dineo Langa and Glenlivet Apologise Over Women’s March Ad

South African actress Dineo Langa and The Glenlivet distillery have apologised after an advertisement linked the famous 1956 Women’s March to the brand’s 18-year-old Scotch whisky.

The advertisement was shared on social media but was later deleted after receiving strong criticism online. It referenced anti-apartheid activist Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, who was 18 years old when she became one of the leaders of the historic 9 August 1956 Women’s March.

Williams-De Bruyn led the march of 20 000 women in Pretoria alongside Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Bertha Gowa. The women marched against apartheid pass laws imposed on black women.

The advertisement quickly sparked criticism on social media, with many people questioning the decision to use such an important part of South Africa’s history to promote alcohol.

STATEMENT ON THE USE OF THE LEGACY OF THE 1956 WOMEN’S MARCH IN ALCOHOL ADVERTISING pic.twitter.com/aAqpIKBCrY

— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) August 28, 2026

The African National Congress (ANC) also criticised the advertisement in a statement released on Friday.

“The African National Congress (ANC) has noted with deep concern the Glenlivet advertisement that uses the images and legacy of some of South Africa’s most revered struggle icons, including Mama Winnie Madikizela- Mandela, Mama Lilian Ngoyi and Mama Sophie Williams-De Bruyn, alongside the historic 1956 Women’s March, to promote an alcoholic product,” the party’s statement read.

“While we recognise the importance of preserving and celebrating the contributions of our liberation stalwarts, we strongly object to the manner in which this sacred chapter of our history has been appropriated for commercial purposes,” they added.

The ANC said the women who took part in the march should not be used as part of a marketing campaign.

“The women of 1956 were not cultural props or marketing symbols; they were fearless leaders whose sacrifices and struggles helped secure the freedom and democracy that South Africans enjoy today.”

The party said the contributions of the women who participated in the march “cannot be reduced to a visual association or branding opportunity; it represents a profound national legacy built on courage, sacrifice and resistance”.

The ANC also spoke about the painful history of alcohol during colonialism and apartheid.

“The use of this history to sell alcohol is particularly insensitive because it disconnects the legacy of these women from the lived experiences of communities that suffered under systems where alcohol was deliberately used as an instrument of exploitation and control,” they said.

The statement continued:

“Under colonialism and apartheid, practices such as the dop system saw farm and other workers partly compensated with alcohol instead of receiving fair remuneration. This entrenched dependency undermined human dignity and contributed to long-term social harm, particularly among black and working-class communities.”

“It is therefore deeply troubling that a history of resistance against oppression is being associated with the promotion of alcohol without proper consideration of this painful context.”

The ANC called on Glenlivet to take down the advert, issue an apology and give clarity on how the campaign came about.

Glenlivet later apologised alongside Langa, saying they understood “the concerns and offence caused by the post”.

“The Glenlivet unreservedly apologises for a recent influencer post which drew on the legacy of the 1956 Women’s March,” read the joint apology statement from the distillery and Langa.

“We acknowledge the offence that this has caused and have deleted the post. We are investigating how this post was conceptualised and approved to make sure this does not happen again,” the statement said.

“We wish to reiterate our heartfelt apology to those impacted by the post.”

Dineo Langa also shared a personal apology on her X account. “I am sorry for the harm I have caused. I understand the gravity of this mistake and will be more mindful in future.”

The Glenlivet and @therealdineo sincerely apologise for the recent social media post referencing the 1956 Women’s March.

We recognise the concerns and offence caused by the post, and have removed it from our social media channels.

Please see our full statement below. pic.twitter.com/MWE8mPfsj2

— The Glenlivet SA (@TheGlenlivetSA) August 28, 2026