The Awareness That Will Save Lives

21 November 2025- South Africa witnesses a historic and powerful moment as the Women for Change movement leads a nationwide shutdown to protest the alarming epidemic of gender-based violence and femicide. This event, known as the G20 Women’s Shutdown, takes place the day before the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and sees women, girls, and LGBTQI+ communities across the country ceasing all forms of work; both paid and unpaid, including care labor, domestic chores, and economic participation for a full day. This deliberate silence sends an unignorable message: without women, South Africa comes to a halt.

In harmony the country sang "senzeni na?" translated "what have we done?". With bold voices and and tears on their faces, our women sang "wemadoda sabelani, bayaphela abafazi". The country is marked by a dramatic purple wave; the symbolic color of the movement, visible everywhere from social media profiles to public spaces. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Barberton and other urban centers are draped in purple banners, and participants wear black as a sign of mourning for the thousands of women lost to violence. A poignant moment of the day unfolded at the Union Buildings in Pretoria where activists and supporters assembled around a strikingly large casket monument, 33.8% larger than a standard coffin, representing the rise in femicide in South Africa. Each bead on the casket symbolizes a woman whose life has been tragically cut short, and this unburied monument serves as a haunting and constant reminder of the lives lost and the urgent need for systemic change.

At exactly 12:00 PM, the nation paused as supporters and participants laid down for 15 minutes in a solemn act of solidarity and remembrance. This lie-down memorial honored the approximately 15 women who are killed every day in South Africa, transforming statistics into deeply personal stories of daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends whose dreams were cut short.

Women for Change demands urgent governmental action, specifically the declaration of gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster. Despite existing laws and frameworks, activists emphasize that implementation remains slow, underfunded, and ineffective. The movement calls for judicial reforms, including opposing bail for perpetrators of sexual and domestic violence and enforcing life imprisonment for convicted offenders of grievous crimes such as femicide and gang rape.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed this monumental day, reiterating the nation’s commitment to ending gender-based violence and reaffirming zero tolerance for perpetrators. He expressed respect and support for the movement's bold approach to demanding change and emphasized the government's responsibility to translate policies into tangible protection and empowerment for women.

For students and young people, today is a compelling call to action—not just to stand in solidarity but to recognize the central role of women in every part of society. The shutdown reveals the true economic and social contributions of women, making clear that safety and equality are foundational for progress.

In every corner of South Africa today, from city centers to campuses, the Women for Change shutdown is a collective declaration: the pain, power, and promise of women cannot be ignored. This movement is more than protest—it is a historic demand for justice, accountability, and transformation. South Africa is listening, and the world is watching.

This day will be remembered not only for the silence but for the roar of resilience from millions demanding a future free of gender-based violence.

Wathint' Abafazi Wathint' Imbokodo.

You strike a woman, you strike a rock.