Restaurants around the country have launched the “come in” policy to help women who might be feeling unsafe!
Johannesburg, South Africa – Restaurants around the country have been inspired by a Cape Town eatery to open their doors for anyone who doesn’t feel safe in a movement that is being called “Come In”.
South Africans are speaking up, and their collective voices are saying enough is enough!
The current outrage was prompted by the recent brutal rape and murders that have triggered a national outcry and much soul-searching in a country that is often seen as one of the world’s most dangerous places for women and children but a country that also often appears completely numb to murder and sexual violence.
Amidst the heartbreak, many are standing up with ideas to combat crime and try better the statistics while the government sit in rooms discussing their options.
We published stories earlier this week about a woman who is trying to raise enough money to give all University students Pepper Spray and a man who is offering free self-defence classes, and now a Cape Town restaurant called Raptor Room has started a national movement after posting a simple idea about creating a safe space!
The restaurant put out a call on their social media which has been picked up by many establishments around the country. This is what they said:
“It’s with a sore heart that we type this post. It’s with a sore heart that we get up in the morning and come to work. It’s with a sore heart that we look at our friends and family mourning, women and children of which some of us have never even met.
Our hearts are broken for all the women and children in this country that has been made to feel like less, like nothing.
As a business that is owned by women and staffed by 80% women, our hearts are broken, and we are angry. Angry for all of the angels who will not see tomorrow because a man thought of her so little, he took her
light away.To all those that survived, that are living with this trigger; we send you love. To those who lost someone they loved, we send you light. To those are struggling to keep their light, we send you strength.
We do not tolerate this. We do not stand for this.
We want to take this opportunity to say:
If you are ever walking in the street close to us and you feel unsafe, just come inside. You don’t need to buy anything. If you are here and you need to walk to your car alone, ask us to walk with you to make sure you are safe. If you are ever in our space and you don’t feel safe, please tell us.
We are tired, but we are strong. And we will fight.”
Following in the footsteps of Raptor Room, other restaurants like La Mouette, Upper Bloem, Tonic Gin bar and Tanen Restaurant have all done the same thing. They are putting the call out on social media but may also eventually put a sticker up on their doors, letting people know that they are part of the movement.
“It is a tough time for our beloved Cape Town this week. There are no words left, only the actions that define us.
Both La Mouette and Upper Bloem Restaurant want to follow The Raptor Room’s example and initiate a #comein policy. If you are in our area in Sea Point or Green Point and you feel in any way unsafe, please COME IN – we will wait with you for your Uber, taxi or friends or one of us will walk with you to your car if needs be.
Enough is enough.
We request other business owners to follow suit and join #comein – let’s make Cape Town safer for all to enjoy our beautiful city and surrounds.”
As more businesses come on board and adopt the “come in” policy, there will be even more spaces for people to feel safer. Our hearts are beaming with pride at how many people are coming together to make South Africa a little brighter during these very dark times.
One of our favourite quotes from a fictional character which rings true this week in South Africa is,
“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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