JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South Africa officially declared the country’s alarming rate of violence against women a national disaster on Friday, as thousands of protesters dressed in black staged dramatic “lie-in” demonstrations across the nation to draw attention to the crisis just days before world leaders gather for the G20 summit.
The announcement came as protesters right across the country, as well as in Johannesburg’s city centre, lay motionless on the ground for 15 minutes, symbolising the 15 women murdered daily in South Africa. One of the large demonstrations took place mere kilometres from the venue where G20 leaders will convene this weekend.
South Africa ranks among the world’s worst countries for gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), with death rates five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women. The stark statistics paint a grim picture: one in three South African women have experienced physical violence, while nearly 10 percent have faced sexual violence, based on a 2022 government survey.
The scale of the crisis is further highlighted by police reports of more than 10,700 rape cases in just the first three months of 2025, though experts believe actual numbers are significantly higher due to underreporting.
“I’m here standing for not only myself but my younger sisters, my siblings and every woman in South Africa,” said 23-year-old protester Lefika Jonathan, echoing sentiments shared by thousands who participated in similar demonstrations nationwide.
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The government’s disaster management agency justified the declaration after evaluating “persistent and immediate life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence,” stating that GBVF met the “threshold of a potential disaster.” This classification makes the issue a priority for the executive branch and “all organs of state.”
However, the timing of the announcement has drawn criticism from activists who have long demanded such recognition. Nineteen-year-old student Nomhle Porogo expressed frustration with what she sees as politically motivated timing.
“For them to declare it a national disaster when it suits them and in front of our visitors because they want to make our house look clean for visitors… is an injustice,” Porogo told AFP.
Despite her criticism of the government’s timing, Porogo remains hopeful that the international spotlight will amplify their message. “All we want is justice,” she said, hoping that “those in higher positions can hear our cries.”
The protests and official declaration underscore South Africa’s struggle with endemic violence against women, bringing urgent domestic concerns to the forefront as the country hosts one of the world’s most important diplomatic gatherings.
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