The Women For Change organisation says it has been overwhelmed by public support ahead of a national shutdown planned for 21 November to highlight the urgent crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa.
In the days leading up to the shutdown, thousands of South Africans have shown solidarity by changing their social media profile pictures to purple, signalling support for survivors and victims of GBV.
Merlize Jogiat of Women For Change emphasised that the organisation is calling on government to address GBV with the same urgency applied to other national crises.
“There is a framework for declaring a national disaster, and GBV meets the criteria,” she said. “We want the same response that Covid-19 triggered resources and funding released to tackle the problem immediately.”
Jogiat added that declaring GBV a national disaster would compel government departments, the police, and the justice system to confront systemic failures.
“Many women are killed after being unable to open cases because police officers turn them away or the judicial system fails them. There is deep brokenness in the system, and we need to change it from within,” she said.
The shutdown is scheduled to coincide with the two-day G20 Summit, a timing Jogiat described as intentional.
“The world’s eyes will be on South Africa, yet our own government and communities are not paying enough attention to the scourge of GBV. This is the perfect moment to demand action and make our voices heard,” she said.
Women For Change hopes the shutdown will increase awareness and pressure authorities to take immediate, meaningful steps to combat gender-based violence nationwide.