This is how South African women shut down violence against women [Photos]

On Wednesday, thousands of South African women took to the streets in protest of the unabated abuse against women in the country.

In Pretoria, the protestors marched to the Union Buildings with the intention of meeting President Cyril Ramaphosa and giving him a memorandum of demands.

Though the protestors were told the president was unavailable and such, should hand over the memorandum to some government officials, they remained adamant and vowed not to leave the buildings until they met the president.

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Their demands were eventually met later on in the evening when the president arrived at the Union Buildings to personally accept their memorandum.

#TotalShutDown one of the marchers addresses the @CyrilRamaphosa, Min of Police Bheki Cele about the purpose of their march @SowetanLIVE pic.twitter.com/CI3f5PwRdq

— Tankiso Makhetha (@Tankmaester) August 1, 2018

The hashtag #TotalShutDown also trended on South Africa Twitter with some users sharing photos and videos of the march. Some women also shared their harrowing experiences of abuse at the hands of men.

#TotalShutDown I dedicate this to my beautiful sister who was taken away from us in the most brutal of ways. They had to brake your arms cause you were such a fighter. ???? @tumisole pic.twitter.com/2pDk3PGf4S

— Bellatrix Lestrange (@lindyyt) August 1, 2018

My name is Karabo Mokoena. My boyfriend murdered me and burnt my body. I was 22 years old. #TotalShutDown #DontLookAway #WomensMonth pic.twitter.com/g4Hal8RDlR

— IOL News (@IOL) August 1, 2018

Pontsho Serumula was in 2014 was burnt by her husband of 12 years and he is still free. #TotalShutDown pic.twitter.com/NXXvJymBqS

— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) August 1, 2018

#TotalShutDown #MyBodyNotYourCrimeScene this lady was able to make an entire skirt with victims of women and child murders/abuse @CapeTimesSA @IOL pic.twitter.com/mAE5mUi50d

— Chevon Booysen (@ChevonBooysen) August 1, 2018

Photo via @raediology on Twitter

Photo via @raediology on Twitter

Photo via @raediology on Twitter

Photo via @raediology on Twitter

Photo via @raediology on Twitter

Organiser Misa Makwakwa Masokameng explains why it is important for women to participate in the march.

“It’s important for women to be here because this is our moment,” she says.#TotalShutDown (@ChristinaPitt94) pic.twitter.com/9DUwinGOFb

— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) August 1, 2018

Photo via @Nontobek0Sibisi on Twitter

Photo via @Nontobek0Sibisi on Twitter

Photo via @Nontobek0Sibisi on Twitter

Photo via @KPutuma on Twitter

Photo via @sboshmafu on Twitter

Photo via @sboshmafu on Twitter

Photo via @sboshmafu on Twitter

Photo via @sboshmafu on Twitter