On 5 September 2019, students from different institutions went to parliament to protest against gender-based violence and demanded to see the president. Thousands of protesters, including students, activists, politicians and academics called for the death sentence to be reinstated for those who commit violence against women. They demanded to see President Cyril Ramaphosa. The president was due to deliver a speech at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town International Convention Centre, but he had to address the crowd instead.
When the president appeared, the protesters shouted, “Enough is enough” and sang one of the struggle songs ‘ Senzeni na?(What we have done)’. As he began to speak, the crowd booed the president, before allowing him to speak. President Ramaphosa agreed that the nation was in crisis and he mentioned that there should be no parole conditions for rape and murder accused. He also promised several thousands of protesters measures to protect women, including harsher punishment to those who commit violence against women and children in South Africa.