‘My Body – Not Your Crime Scene’ march

Total Shutdown marches took place across the country on Wednesday to call for an end to gender-based violence against women, as Women’s Month begins.

Spokesperson for the Western Cape Total Shutdown Nozi Samela told Cape Talk, “This women’s month, women in South Africa have nothing to celebrate because they are continually persecuted.”

The Cape Town leg of the march began at Cape Peninsula University (CPUT) at 9am and continued throughout the day. There was a large turn out and women marched peacefully to drive their message home.

Thousands of women gathered throughout the country and marched with signboards reflecting the theme ‘My Body – Not Your Crime Scene’ to highlight violence against women.

Men were asked to not participate or get involved during the marches. Samela explains why men were not included, “Now as women we said to ourselves we are going to take matters into our hands and we are going to march for ourselves, by ourselves. Imagine if we were marching with the men, how will we know who is the rapist among, them, how will we know who amongst them is out on parole for victimising women…”

Here are some moments from the Cape Town march