#TotalShutdown: Women’s Month kicks off with protests against gender-based violence

As Women’s Month kicks off today, 1 August, women are set to embark on a national protest today against gender-based violence. The #TotalShutdown will take place in eight of the nine provinces in South Africa.

In Gauteng, women will gather at the old Putco Depot in Pretoria at 9am before marching to the Union Buildings.

[uses_iframe src=”https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d14375.674210131046!2d28.2119908!3d-25.7402069!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0x15bc1a7319252305!2sUnion+Buildings!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sza!4v1533103182100″ width=”600″ height=”450″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:0″ allowfullscreen]

Women have been urged to wear red and black clothing, as well as refrain from making any purchases in order to demonstrate their economic power in South Africa.

Neighbouring countries Lesotho and Namibia will also be participating.

#TotalShutDown ♥️ Say no to gender based violence #JoburgCares ^GZ pic.twitter.com/AG1g9f7Utl

— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) July 31, 2018

Let's support #TotalShutDown; the gender struggle is yours too. ^LM pic.twitter.com/rA3WCwBHdl

— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) July 31, 2018

The #TotalShutDown movement will hold marches in eight of the nine provinces as well as in Lesotho and Namibia #FirstTakeSA #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/DXANwjFNpv

— Resting User 5 (@FirstTakeSA) August 1, 2018

We have elaborate celebrations of women’s month in August but women are never safe to walk the streets of this country as equal citizens without fear that they will be the next victim or worst, the next statistic. #TotalShutDown

— Shaeera Akbar Kalla (@shaeera_k) July 31, 2018

Today the Women of South Africa will unite and our voices will be heard . It’s time to stop gender based violence . It’s time to stop robbing women from their right to respect , freedom and the right to live without fear. #WomensMonth #TotalShutDown

— Naseeha 🇿🇦 🇵🇸 (@officialjooma) August 1, 2018

https://twitter.com/SATrending2/status/1024529438577516544

https://twitter.com/NaFakude_/status/1024529433443688448

https://twitter.com/OtshedileP/status/1024529756946096128