March at Cape Town’s Princess Vlei highlights safety concerns for women after sunset
Participants gathered at Princess Vlei in Cape Town on a Friday evening for a protest march against gender-based violence (GBV). The event, which took place after sunset, was intended to draw attention to the heightened safety risks women and children face in public spaces at night. Organizers and participants, including local community groups and officials, used the demonstration to express frustration with the current state of violence in South Africa, specifically citing recent murders in Ekurhuleni as a catalyst for the protest.
Key points
- People participated in a night march at Princess Vlei to protest gender-based violence.
- The demonstration aimed to highlight how safety conditions for women and children change after sunset.
- The march was organized in response to the recent murders of women in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
- Activists criticized government efforts, labeling recent presidential pledges as repetitive and ineffective.
- The event provided a platform for men to discuss the impact of gender-based violence.
What happened
On a Friday evening, people marched along the walking trail at Princess Vlei in Cape Town. The protest was organized to address gender-based violence and specifically to emphasize the vulnerability of women and children in public spaces after dark. Participants, including members of neighborhood watch groups and social development MEC Wendy Kaizer-Philander, carried placards calling for an end to the violence.
Lucinda Evans, director of the safety shelter Philisa Abafazi Bethu and the event organizer, stated that the march was intended to initiate deeper conversations about GBV and provide a space for men to address their role in the issue.
Context
The march follows a series of violent incidents, including the reported murders of 12 women in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, over a two-month period. These events have sparked nationwide protests. While President Cyril Ramaphosa recently pledged additional resources for the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units and promised quarterly progress reports, activists remain skeptical.
Evans criticized the President's recent address, comparing it to similar promises made in 2019 and describing the current system as broken.
What's next
Organizers hope the march serves as the beginning of a sustained dialogue regarding gender-based violence. The government has committed to issuing a consolidated report on actions taken to combat GBV within 90 days of the President's recent address, with subsequent public reports to follow on a quarterly basis.
Why it matters
The protest underscores ongoing public frustration regarding the prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa and the perceived inadequacy of government interventions to ensure public safety.
What we know
- A march against gender-based violence took place at Princess Vlei on a Friday evening in October 2026.
- The march was attended by neighborhood watch groups and social development MEC Wendy Kaizer-Philander.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged additional resources to combat gender-based violence and promised a consolidated report on actions taken within 90 days.
