Women for Change says anti-GBV message carried strongly during national shutdown

Non-government organisation (NGO) Women for Change believes its message was carried strongly on Friday during demonstrations against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.

Besides the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town, gatherings were also held at Stellenbosch University's Rooiplein, while other demonstrations were seen in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and the country's five other provinces.

Organised by Women for Change, the shutdown aimed to highlight the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide in the country.

READ: Women for Change hails 'incredible turnout' for Cape Town protest against GBV

During a silent fifteen-minute lay-down, thousands of women could be seen shedding tears as the names of the women who were murdered in incidents of GBV were read out over a loudspeaker.

Merlize Jogiat, advocacy co-ordinator at Women for Change, stressed the need for deeper dialogue.

"We need to be focusing on having deeper, meaningful conversations about gender-based violence. Demonstrations like this are not even something that need to be necessary, but we are here now, and we've gotten the message across." Jogiat said.

WATCH: Nationwide outcry: Thousands of women unite across SA against GBV