Thohoyandou Town came to a standstill when the Vhembe District Municipality and the Commission on Gender Equality held its first historic Take back the Night Campaign on Saturday evening.

The campaign was held at the square, next to the statue of former Venda homeland ruler, Patrick Mphephu, in front of the municipal buildings. It was marked by a march around Thohoyandou Town as a sign to highlight the scourge of crime against women and children, which is perpetrated under cover of darkness.

Take Back The Night has been travelling around the world since 1976. It started that year in Belgium, when women attending the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women marched to protest against the way in which violence affects the lives of all the women in the world. The message was clearly to address aspects of gender-based violence and to reclaim their rights, so that everyone can live freely and without fear in- and outside their homes.

The campaign serves as a space for the communities to create an atmosphere of zero tolerance toward gender-based violence and to educate the community about the nature and extent of violence that is systematically used to keep women in subordinate positions. It also aims to empower everyone to stand against gender-based violence wherever they see it and to take direct action to stop violence against women.

Speaking to a throng of activists against the abuse of women and children, Limpopo’s MEC for Arts, Sports and Culture, Joyce Mashamba, said women have the right to be loved and respected. She said women must wage war against all the laws that discriminate against them.

She added: "I wonder what type of society are we, which still abuses and rapes women instead of loving and protecting them? We say ´enough is enough´ of the violence against women and children. We must thank our government because it brought new legislation which allows the voices of women to be heard."

MEC Mashamba encouraged community members not to keep quiet whenever they observe any type of abuse. "We must all speak out against crimes committed toward women, so that the perpetrators can be brought to book. We commend men and women who became the architects against the abuse of women and children. We need to take back our dignity and that is why we are demanding back the night for our safety and for those of our children."