A group of demonstrators charged towards the doors of the Cape Town International Convention Centre yesterday (4th September), where the World Economic Forum was under way. The group held a silent protest against gender-based violence and called for a state of emergency to be declared in the country in view of the escalating violence against women and children. South Africans from all walks of life, who took part in the peaceful demonstration, called for more decisive action from the government. Demonstrators protested outside the WEF venue, criticizing government’s sluggish attempts to end violence against women. Presidential special advisor on gender-based violence, Dr Olive Shisana tried to pacify the angry mob. She assured that the government would evolve an action plan to address gender-based violence and said that the government agencies are going around the country consulting women on the strategy to fight gender-based violence. Protesters, however, did not listen to her and have since moved to Parliament intensifying the protest. President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading a top-level delegation to the World Economic Forum, to pitch South Africa as an investment destination.
