Nationwide ‘Women’s Shutdown’ to honour 15 women murdered daily in South Africa

Women for Change, a non-profit organisation that advocates for the constitutional rights of women and children in South Africa, will stage a nationwide demonstration on Friday, 21 November, calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare gender-based violence a national crisis as world leaders gather for the G20 summit in South Africa.

The peaceful protest, dubbed the “G20 Women’s Shutdown,” will see participants across South Africa lie down in silence for 15 minutes at 12:00 to honour the 15 women murdered daily in the country; a sobering statistic that has positioned South Africa amongst the world’s most dangerous places for women.

In the Eastern Cape, two gathering points have been designated: Eastern Beach in East London and King’s Beach, Summerstrand, in Gqeberha. The demonstration marks a departure from traditional marches, with organisers opting for a symbolic withdrawal from economic activity.

“This is a movement of unity, grief and collective power to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” the organisation stated in its call to action.

Participants are encouraged to wear black to mourn lives lost to gender-based violence and femicide, and purple to show solidarity. The demonstration will be broadcast live across Women for Change’s social media platforms, where the names of victims will be read during the 15-minute silence.

The timing of the shutdown is strategic, coinciding with the G20 meeting to amplify South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis on the international stage. The action aims to pressure the government to treat GBV with the urgency of a national emergency.

Nationwide meeting points:

Gauteng: Aula Lawn, University of Pretoria and Union Buildings Lawn, Pretoria, both in Pretoria; and Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Randburg and Constitutional Hill, both in Johannesburg.

Western Cape: Sea Point Promenade, Cape Town and Stellenbosch University, Rooiplein

Eastern Cape: Eastern Beach, East London and King’s Beach, Gqeberha

Northern Cape: Sol Plaatje University of Kimberley

KwaZulu-Natal: North and South Beach, Durban

North West: North West University, Potchefstroom (Potch Park at the Bult Area)

Limpopo: University of Limpopo, Sports Ground

Free State: University of the Free State, Hoffman Square (Main Campus, Bloemfontein)

Mpumalanga: Riverside Government Boulevard, Nelspruit

For those unable to attend physical gathering points, organisers encourage remote participation from safe spaces, with supporters sharing their involvement using the hashtag #WomenForChange.

Women for Change coordinators will be present at official venues to ensure the demonstration remains peaceful and safe for all participants.

The shutdown represents the latest effort by civil society to address South Africa’s alarming femicide rates and the broader crisis of violence against women that has plagued the country for decades.

Guidelines for remote participation

• Choose a safe, public and visible location.
• Keep the gathering small and manageable to ensure safety.
• Start exactly at 12:00 and lie down in silence for 15 minutes.
• Join the national live stream on Women For Change’s Instagram, Facebook or TikTok pages during the lie-down.
• Maintain a peaceful environment with no violence, confrontation or disruption.
• Use only the official messaging of the G20 Women’s Shutdown led by Women For Change.