On the eve of the G20 Summit, women across South Africa participated in a nationwide shutdown to demand urgent action against gender-based violence. In Sea Point, hundreds observed a 15-minute silent lie-down to highlight the daily murder of women. The action, led by Women For Change, seeks declaration of GBV and femicide as a national disaster.
The nationwide shutdown occurred on Friday, 21 November, coinciding with the approach of the G20 Summit. Organized by Women For Change, it urged women and LGBTQI+ individuals to pause paid and unpaid labor, refrain from spending, and don black attire in solidarity and mourning. This initiative supports a petition that has garnered over a million signatures, pressing for gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide to be classified as a national disaster.
At Sea Point Promenade, the event drew hundreds who lay silent for 15 minutes at noon—one minute per average daily female murder victim in South Africa. The protest spanned 15 meet-up points countrywide. A Human Sciences Research Council study from July to September 2024 reported nearly 1,000 women murdered, over 10,000 rapes, and thousands of attempted murders and assaults during that period.
The National Disaster Management Centre had earlier dismissed similar calls from Women For Change. However, on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the G20 Social Summit, stating that South Africa "has declared gender-based violence and femicide a national crisis" and emphasized the need for "extraordinary and concerted action" to eradicate it.
Participants shared personal experiences during the Sea Point gathering. "The turnout today was great, it’s a lot better than I expected," said Hannah. Megan, from the queer community, noted, "The queer community showing up is really important to us." Liwonga, an 18-year-old, expressed, "I’m very inspired and very grateful that we can come together as youth. We’re not safe and we’re not being heard."
Hope, a mother, voiced fears for her daughter: "I’m even scared when somebody else needs to pick her up from school." Carin recounted university inaction on GBV incidents, while Atarah criticized lax consequences, referencing high-profile cases like Chris Brown.
The silent protest highlighted the societal and economic toll of inadequate protection for women, underscoring a call for governmental seriousness.