Nationwide Protests on the Horizon

South African women’s rights organizations are organizing protests across the country, advocating for gender-based violence (GBV) to be recognized as a national disaster. This movement has gained traction through social media and is set to culminate in a major “shutdown” on Friday, coinciding with the G20 Summit to be held in Johannesburg.

In a show of solidarity, many individuals and celebrities are adopting purple profile pictures online, a color symbolic of GBV awareness.

Alarming Statistics

According to UN Women, South Africa has alarmingly high rates of GBV, with the homicide rate for women estimated to be five times the global average. Recent crime statistics reveal that between January and March of this year, 137 women were murdered and more than 1,000 reported rapes.

Details of the Protest

On the day of the shutdown, participants are encouraged to abstain from work and school, engage in a 15-minute vigil at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) to honor the 15 women murdered daily in the country. Demonstrations are planned in 15 locations, including major cities like Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.

Support has also emerged from neighboring countries such as Eswatini, Kenya, and Namibia, with their citizens joining the protest. Participants are encouraged to wear black as a sign of mourning and resistance.

Government Response and Calls for Action

The protests are being organized by Women for Change, which is leading the online campaign. Activists express frustration over the government’s position, as the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) rejected the call to declare GBV a national disaster, citing legal limitations.

Although President Cyril Ramaphosa labeled GBV a national crisis at the G20 Social Summit in 2019, activists feel that insufficient progress has been made in implementation. Cameron Kasambala, spokesperson for Women for Change, emphasized, “We’ve integrated violence… into our culture [and] into our social norms.” She believes that significant government action is crucial for cultural change.

Grassroots Initiatives and Personal Stories

The movement has garnered personal testimonials, including those from women like Prudence, who has taken self-defense measures following her assault in 2022. She shared her ordeal, stating, “It isn’t a police problem; it is a nation problem.”

In response to ongoing violence, some women are turning to self-defense through organizations like Girls on Fire, founded by Lynette Oxeley. Oxeley noted that many participants have suffered violence and that her program aims to empower women, remarking, “It’s not about actually defending yourself with a firearm. I want ladies to change what they think about themselves.”