South Africa Unites for Gender-Based Violence Awareness with Purple Protests

Sat Nov 22 2025 07:04:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As South African women rally for gender violence to be declared a national disaster, a significant movement emerges, uniting individuals and celebrities under the banner of change.

In a powerful demonstration against escalating gender-based violence in South Africa, women’s rights groups are organizing nationwide protests dubbed the 'G20 Women's Shutdown.' Activists are calling for heightened governmental action and awareness, urging participants to wear purple and to refrain from work as a form of resistance. Despite the government's previous declaration of GBV as a crisis, activists insist on more effective implementation of laws.

South African women's rights groups are calling for nationwide protests to demand that gender-based violence (GBV) be declared a national disaster in a country where attacks on women have become commonplace.

The campaign began with a viral social media movement and will culminate in a nationwide shutdown on Friday, ahead of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

Celebrities, citizens and nations have shown their solidarity by changing their social media profile pictures to purple – a colour often linked to GBV awareness.

South Africa experiences some of the world's highest levels of GBV, with the rate at which women are killed five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women.

Between January and March this year, 137 women were murdered and more than 1,000 raped, according to South African crime statistics.

On Friday, women are being urged to refrain from going to work or school, withdraw from the economy for one day, and lie down for 15 minutes at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) in honour of the women murdered in the country.

The protest, dubbed the G20 Women's Shutdown, has been organised by Women for Change, which has also been spearheading the online campaign. There has also been an online petition, signed by over one million people, calling for the government to take an even tougher stance against the scourge.

The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has rejected the calls to declare GBV a national disaster, saying it doesn't fall within the legal requirements. However, activists say that little has changed and they want the government to take more action.

Cameron Kasambala, a spokesperson for Women for Change, lamented the enactment of so many beautiful acts and legislations over the years coupled with a lack of implementation and transparency on the government's part. She emphasized the need for the government to react adequately to this issue.

Gracing the movement, celebrities like Grammy-award winning singer Tyla have rallied for change alongside everyday citizens, urging for a collective stand against gender violence.

Despite some facing employer backlash for wanting to participate, many women are determined to make their voices heard, pushing for a safer environment in South Africa.