Popular Roeland Street eatery The Raptor Room started an initiative to extend a warm welcome to all women who feel unsafe on the street. Coining it the “come in” policy, the restaurant and bar recognises the need to offer women a safe space following the recent spate in femicide and rape reports, and the resulting protests across Cape Town.

“As a business that is owned by womxn and staffed by 80% womxn, 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,” writes the Raptor Room’s team on an Instagram post.

Mere hours later, eateries La Mouette and Upper Bloem Restaurant joined in, and have urged other businesses to do the same.

“It is a tough time for our beloved Cape Town this week. There are no words left, only the actions that define us,” they said via social media. “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.”

According to the restaurants, 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.”

Picture: Pixabay