Cape Town - It’s been three years since the momentous #TotalShutdown march to Parliament and while powerful scenes of that day still replay in my head, the stark reality of women still fighting the same demons rips the wind from the sails.
The landscape of fighting for justice has changed in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic where marches of that magnitude are prohibited as we adhere to safety protocols and adjust to the new normal. The crimes remain the same and feel even more intensified when you are confined to your home and processing how women and children are still brutally raped and murdered.
I am suddenly isolated. A new mom, thrown into lockdown with so many fears. Fears which are now heightened as criminals continue to violate your safe space with their heinous deeds, and while I work from home, paranoia takes a comfortable seat at my makeshift desk. Nothing feels safe as we continue to report on these crimes and listen to these victims and their cries for justice.
Suddenly you feel silenced and alone, not being able to debrief to a colleague over a cup of coffee before the deadline.
There is an amplified sense of wanting to do more for the cause of fighting gender-based violence and femicide, using your pen and keyboard as the loud hailer so that people sit up and are reminded of us.
We are still here, we are still victims and we still want justice.
Women’s Day has always had the fundamental theme of unity and unity in numbers.
During this pandemic, we have had to find different ways to connect and use our strengths and conviction for this fight, but our calls for equality and justice remain the same.
We may be socially distanced but we stay in this together, united as women.
Cape Times