South Africa declares violence against women a national disaster after protests

On Friday, November 21, women across the country staged "lie-downs" for 15 minutes at noon, symbolising the 15 women murdered in South Africa every day. The protests took place in 15 locations, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, with demonstrators dressed in black to signify mourning and resistance. Support also came from allies in Eswatini, Kenya, and Namibia.

The campaign, dubbed the G20 Women’s Shutdown, was organised by Women for Change, which also led a social media drive that saw thousands, including celebrities, change their profile pictures to purple, a colour associated with GBV awareness. An online petition supporting the cause garnered over one million signatures.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) classified GBV and femicide as a disaster after "a thorough reassessment of previous reports and updated submissions from organs of state as well as civil organisations."

This follows an earlier 2019 declaration by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had termed GBV and femicide a national crisis.

“The declaration allows the government to strengthen support for current GBV response structures, implement contingency arrangements, and ensure all necessary mechanisms are activated to manage the disaster effectively,” Hlabisa said.

Despite previous efforts, Women for Change spokesperson Cameron Kasambala said implementation has often been lacking. “We’ve integrated violence into our culture and social norms,” she said. “Once the government truly reacts, we’ll begin to see tangible changes on the ground.”

The protest has inspired the "purple movement", with participants posting purple hearts, nail polish, and clothing online. Grammy-winning singer Tyla was among the high-profile supporters.