Hundreds gather at UCT for femicide vigil in South Africa

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Friday at the University of Cape Town to hold a vigil for the victims of femicide in South Africa, marking one of the largest public commemorations of gender‑based violence in recent years. Organized by a coalition of women's rights groups and university student societies, the event featured candles, spoken testimonies and a moment of silence, with participants ranging from university staff and students to community activists and family members of victims. Organisers highlighted the country's persistently high femicide rate, noting that official statistics show more than 2,000 women were murdered in 2023, a figure that has prompted renewed calls for stronger legal protections and more effective policing.

Speakers at the vigil underscored the broader social and economic factors contributing to the epidemic, including inadequate support services for survivors and a culture of impunity surrounding gender‑based crimes. Government representatives in attendance pledged to accelerate the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender‑Based Violence, while advocacy groups urged the public and policymakers to sustain pressure for concrete reforms. The gathering concluded with a collective commitment to keep the memory of the victims alive and to press for systemic change aimed at ending femicide in South Africa.