Women and children took to the streets of Klipfontein View in Midrand recently in an activation march ahead of the #TotalShutDown demonstration planned to take place on 1 August.
The #TotalShutDown campaign is a protest march planned to take place across the country to highlight the increasing number of femicide and gender-based violence incidences. Klipfontein View resident and one of the organisers of the march, Lungile Mamabolo said she was happy with the success of the activation march where women and girl children from the area filled the streets to raise awareness and mobilise support for the cause.
A #TotalShutDown statement stated that women in the country had little to celebrate as the femicide rate was five times higher than the global average. “We are simply too tired of seeing pictures of missing women and reading horrific stories on social media or publications about the unexplained evil manner in which women are killed, and very little or even no action is taken by relevant authorities,” read the statement.
“Statistics show that in the Gauteng province, over 60 women were murdered in one month, in just one province.”
Another resident who took part in the activation march, Christine Ncumalo said she was happy to be part of the movement. “We are ordinary women not affiliated to any political party, but instead we are women who want change,” she said.
Filler: What do you think contributes to the high rate of femicide in South Africa.
