A Historic Stand Against Gender-Based Violence

In November 2025, South Africa is at a turning point in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The Women for Change movement has called for a nationwide shutdown on November 21, one day before the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. This shutdown is not just another protest; it is a historic act of resistance and solidarity by women, LGBTQI+ communities, and allies across the country. It sends a powerful message: without women, the nation stops.

What Is the Women for Change Shutdown?

Women for Change is urging women, girls, and LGBTQI+ people to completely withdraw their participation from all economic activities for the day. This includes both paid and unpaid work such as caregiving, domestic chores, and studying. Participants are also asked to refrain from spending money. These actions demonstrate the critical economic and social roles that women fill daily, roles often taken for granted or overlooked.

Complementing this economic withdrawal is a symbolic wave of purple—the colour adopted by the movement—spreading across social media and public spaces, including landmarks and shopping centers. This visual protest aims to turn the nation purple as a sign of resilience, mourning, and demand for justice. The message the movement delivers is clear: the epidemic of violence against women cannot be ignored any longer.

Why Is This Movement So Urgent?

South Africa faces a devastating reality: a woman is murdered every 2.5 hours, and tens of thousands suffer from sexual violence each year. Official reports cite over 42,000 rape cases reported annually, but estimates indicate nearly 95% of cases remain unreported due to fear, stigma, and mistrust of the justice system. Despite governmental promises and existing frameworks, survivors and activists say the crisis continues unabated and poorly managed.

Women for Change demands that the government declare GBVF a national disaster, a status that would unlock emergency resources and enable urgent, systemic interventions. The movement explicitly calls out the slow pace and lack of transparency in how the government has used funds promised to combat violence, including the R21-billion pledged by President Ramaphosa five years ago.

President Ramaphosa’s Role and Response

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the severity of the crisis. In his Women’s Day speech in August 2025, he highlighted government initiatives to empower women economically, reduce the gender wage gap, and increase female leadership representation. He emphasized a zero-tolerance stance on violence against women, condemning perpetrators with a clear message: “You can run, but you cannot hide.”

However, Ramaphosa also recognized that more must be done to protect women and that the government’s efforts need ramping up. His recent speeches, including at the International Women’s Forum, stressed collective accountability and the urgent need for tangible results rather than promises. The Women for Change shutdown puts added pressure on the government to turn words into action and honor commitments made over years.

What Does This Mean for Us?

For students, especially young women and gender-nonconforming individuals, this movement is a call to awareness, participation, and activism. Gender-based violence is not just a distant crime statistic—it impacts classmates, friends, and communities. The shutdown invites students to reflect on the real consequences of violence and systemic inequality and encourages participation in a national effort for social justice.

Students can take part by supporting the day of action—whether by refraining from classes, engaging in awareness campaigns, or sharing information on social media. It is an opportunity to stand with survivors, demand government accountability, and push for a safer, more equitable future.

A Moment of Collective Power and Hope

The Women for Change movement is transforming grief and outrage into a united force for change. It demonstrates the power of collective action to challenge injustice and demand accountability on a national scale. As South Africa turns purple and votes of support flood the digital world, this moment reminds everyone that ending gender-based violence requires urgent attention from all sectors of society.

If you believe in a South Africa where everyone can live free from fear and violence, this is a movement worth understanding, supporting, and amplifying. When women rise, the whole nation rises with them.