On Friday, 21 November 2025, South Africa witnessed something extraordinary. Thousands of women, men, and allies across the nation stood together — and lay down together — in one of the most powerful protests our country has ever seen. For the first time, the government truly listened.
Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) now carries official classification as a national disaster in South Africa. However, this represents more than just a policy change. Instead, it marks a turning point — the moment when a nation finally said: enough is enough.
What Happened During the G20 Women’s Shutdown?
The G20 Women’s Shutdown, organised by non-profit organisation Women for Change, brought South Africa to a standstill. Across 15 locations in all nine provinces — from Cape Town’s Company’s Garden to Johannesburg’s Mary Fitzgerald Square to Durban’s Golden Mile — protesters gathered dressed in black as a symbol of mourning and resistance.
At exactly 12:00, thousands of South Africans lay down in silence for 15 minutes. Each minute honoured one of the women murdered in our country every single day. Consequently, it became a moment of collective grief, collective power, and collective hope.
The call to action was simple but powerful: withdraw from the economy for one day. Women and LGBTQI+ individuals answered by refusing to work, refusing to spend, and refusing to stay silent. As a result, they demonstrated both the economic and social impact of their labour — and the devastating cost when violence takes that labour away.
Why Did This Protest Carry Such Power?
Unlike previous demonstrations, this was not just another march. Rather, it represented 18 months of relentless advocacy reaching its crescendo. Women for Change launched their petition in April 2024, calling for GBVF to receive classification as a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act. By the time the protest took place, over one million people had added their signatures — both from South Africa and around the world.
Moreover, the timing proved deliberate. Organisers scheduled the protest for the eve of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, thereby forcing world leaders to confront the reality that South Africa’s femicide rate sits five times higher than the global average. Women for Change put it plainly: “Until South Africa stops burying a woman every 2.5 hours, the G20 cannot speak of growth and progress.”
Meanwhile, social media turned purple — a colour now synonymous with gender-based violence awareness. Celebrities including Grammy-award winning singer Tyla, Moonchild Sanelly, and Sho Madjozi amplified the movement with their platforms. Furthermore, allies in Eswatini, Kenya, and Namibia expressed solidarity. With the world watching, South Africa could no longer look away.
The Result: Government Officially Classifies GBV as a National Disaster
On the same day as the protest, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed what millions had fought for: gender-based violence and femicide now carries official classification as a national disaster.
After evaluating “the persistent and immediate life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence,” the National Disaster Management Centre concluded that GBVF “meets the threshold of a potential disaster.”
Importantly, this classification carries significant weight. All organs of state — from policing to social development, justice to health, education to economic development — must now prioritise the fight against gender-based violence. Additionally, national, provincial, and municipal authorities have received instructions to implement multisectoral prevention, mitigation, relief, and rehabilitation plans.
Minister Hlabisa emphasised the broader implications: “Above all, it confirms a fundamental truth: GBVF is not a women’s issue. It is a national crisis.”
The Statistics That Forced Our Nation to Act
The numbers tell a staggering story — and they explain precisely why this moment matters so much:
- Every 2.5 hours, a woman loses her life to violence in South Africa
- Each day, 15 women die at the hands of perpetrators
- Between April 2023 and March 2024, perpetrators killed 5,578 women and 1,656 children
- Femicide rates climbed by 33.8% in a single year
- Police received 42,569 rape case reports in the same period — yet experts estimate that 95% of rape cases go unreported
- South Africa’s femicide rate exceeds the global average by five times
However, these figures represent more than just statistics. Behind each number stands a mother, sister, daughter, or friend. Ultimately, these are the women we have lost while waiting for action.
What Comes Next: The Road Ahead
Although the declaration represents a victory, it marks only the beginning. Women for Change and other advocacy organisations have made their position clear: the work is far from over. Ultimately, implementation will determine everything.
Moving forward, the key demands include:
- Budget allocation: The National Treasury must urgently fund implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF for 2025–2030
- Establishment of the National Council on GBVF: Government has committed to making this body operational by April 2026
- Stricter prosecution: The National Prosecuting Authority must oppose bail in cases involving child sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, attempted murder, and murder
- Transparency: Authorities must make the National Register for Sex Offenders publicly accessible
- Education: Schools must incorporate consent and gender equality into curricula, alongside year-round awareness programmes in workplaces and communities
- Accountability: Government must provide quarterly reporting on GBVF caseloads, prosecution rates, and case management
Currently, the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is underway. In addition, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has launched the LETSEMA campaign — calling on men, women, boys, girls, and media to work together to stop GBVF.
Moving Forward Together as a Nation
What happened on 21 November 2025 transcended a simple protest. Instead, a nation finally confronted a painful truth — and chose to act. Women for Change captured it perfectly in their statement: “We have written history together. We have finally forced the country to confront the truth.”
Ultimately, this is what happens when ordinary South Africans refuse to stay silent. When we stand together — and lie down together — for what is right, change becomes possible.
Nevertheless, lasting change requires all of us. Communities, men, and institutions must actively challenge harmful norms, protect survivors, and uphold justice. Therefore, we must keep showing up, keep speaking out, and keep holding our government accountable.
The declaration now carries the president’s signature. Consequently, the real work begins today.
If You Need Support
The events of the past week may have stirred up difficult emotions for many people. Whether you survived gender-based violence yourself, know someone affected, or simply feel overwhelmed by what has unfolded, please know that you are not alone.
TherapyNow stands ready to provide confidential, trauma-informed support in the language you feel most comfortable in. You can reach us via WhatsApp, Email, or our Website — no advance appointment necessary, no judgement, just a safe space to talk.
If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out today. You matter, and you deserve to be heard.
Together, we heal. Together, we rise. Together, we build a safer South Africa.
