Cape Town protests: citizens march on Parliament and the CTICC demanding answers

Cape Town was the epicentre of protests on Wednesday, as those demonstrating against gender-based violence and the recent attacks on foreign nationals took to the city centre.

Parliament was the scene of a UCT student protest. In a peaceful demonstration, scores of students demanded action from government over violent crimes against women in South Africa.

This comes after 18-year-old student, Uyinene Mrwetyana, was this week murdered and raped and sentiment against violence against women surged online.

#RemeberingNene #RiseAgainstSGBV #JustNo The crowd at the gates of parliaments has grown in support of rising against sexual and gender-based violence. pic.twitter.com/6CKxo43ioM

— UCT (@UCT_news) September 4, 2019

#UyineneMrwetyana #AmINext 1000s of UCT students outside parliament protest the murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana and the scourge of gendered violence in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/y5R266MbKr

— Graham Wilson (@grayzfire) September 4, 2019

#RemeberingNene #RiseAgainstSGBV #JustNo Members of the public have come out in large crowds to take a stand against sexual and gender-based violence. Join the picket at parliament today until 11:00. pic.twitter.com/0W1Irb4uCH

— UCT (@UCT_news) September 4, 2019

The UCT Astronomy Department says #justno to sexual and gender-based violence. #RememberingNene pic.twitter.com/tUoD1ZaD8f

— Astronomy at UCT (@AstronomyUCT) September 4, 2019

Uyinene picket at Parliament pic.twitter.com/dTCPCLLmeg

— danwood chirwa (@danwood_chirwa) September 4, 2019

Walking towards Parliament and Gathering against Gender Based Violence in South Africa at Parliament in Cape Town. Women are tire and so should men #StopKillingOurWomen #StopViolenceAgainstWomen #GenderBasedViolence #CapeTown #Uyinene #AyakhaJiyane #JesseHess #LeighandreJegels pic.twitter.com/2nGm9heNXa

— Marrying my twin 💍 #Engaged (@Reneilwe___) September 4, 2019

Outside Parliament Cape Town rn. @FabAcademic is part of the protests. Kwanele, yhey kwanele man. #HowManyMustDie #AmINextPROTEST pic.twitter.com/VBUbDOmcuK

— Sinetemba (@Miss_Jakavula) September 4, 2019

#RememberingNene #RiseAgainstSGBV #JustNO UCT SRC President, Asanda Lobelo, addresses the crowd outside the gates of parliament. pic.twitter.com/sHv714DOEN

— UCT (@UCT_news) September 4, 2019

The university shut down all academic activities until 6 September.

Also on Wednesday, protests about the recent spate of anti-foreigner violence flared up outside the World Economic Forum on Africa taking place this week at the CTICC.

A number of students from the protest in Parliament also made their way to the CTICC.

Situation at Cape Town CBD. Crowd march from Parliament to CTICC to demand an address by President Cyril Ramaphosa pic.twitter.com/1tDZ5s28T5

— Andile Human (@AndileHuman) September 4, 2019

#WEFAfrica19 rocked by #StopKillingOurWomen protests calling for an end of violence against women #sabcnews high police presence. Protestors demand to be addressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. CTICC doors locked as protestors sing "senzeni naa" outside pic.twitter.com/VvaFZUoNhN

— Glory Sefako-Musi (@glorysefako) September 4, 2019

Protest at #WEFAfrica19 pic.twitter.com/vesHfFalTG

— 🇿🇦🇲🇺🇹🇿🇺🇸🇲🇿🇱🇸 Ntuthuko Mthanti (@Ntuthuko22) September 4, 2019

Video coverage of the protests for justice outside #WEFAfrica19 #CTICC #CapeTown #FourShore#SAshutdown #EnoughIsEnough #PrayForSouthAfrica #SouthAfricans pic.twitter.com/v5CtVm5XzP

— Richard Juries (@RJuriesSA) September 4, 2019

Protest action at the bottom of Adderley #CapeTown #protest @KFMza @ewnreporter @ewnupdates @media24 @CTICC_Official pic.twitter.com/ET44VEGwe6

— Gabriel Kroes (@GabrielKroes) September 4, 2019

'Share the burden' Women gathered outside the Cticc today in a silent protest for violence against women #UyineneMrwetyana @TeamNews24 @News24 pic.twitter.com/SpfyVU5aeH

— Nissa Nissa 💎💫 (@NaseemaBarday) September 4, 2019

At CTICC

#XenophobiaInSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/owHxLa5Rel

— Yesu Nyana Ka Thixo (@uYesuKrestu) September 4, 2019

The protest later in the day was marred by the actions of police.

Water cannons and stun grenades were used to disperse the demonstrations, all while leaders of various African states, and President Cyril Ramaphosa who on Tuesday called to end the “wanton” violence within the country, were housed inside the building.

Water Cannons and Stun Grenades used outside the CTICC @wef to dispurse crowds protesting against Sexual Violence in South Africa. #AmINextPROTEST pic.twitter.com/1t67RqlO5B

— Naledi Moleo (@naledimoleo) September 4, 2019

Fucking COWARD SA police spraying water and shooting at the #CTICC #StopKillingOurWomen March 🔪Stay safe! ❤️

vid cred: @kellyVN pic.twitter.com/MNXEU9A8lH

— 𝖋𝖗❆𝖘𝖙 (@Nick_Frost) September 4, 2019

The hashtags #AmINext, #StopKillingOurWomen, and #WEFAfrica19 trended on Twitter for much of the day.

Feature image: Memeburn