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South Africa has officially classified violence against women as a national disaster, following an online campaign that culminated in nationwide protests on Friday.
Women were urged to “withdraw from the economy for one day” and lie down for 15 minutes at noon in honour of the 15 women murdered each day in the country.
The state had previously rejected calls for such a designation but reversed its position after “evaluating the persistent and immediate life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence”.
South Africa has some of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV), with women killed at five times the global average, according to UN Women.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed that the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) had declared GBV and femicide a disaster after reviewing updated submissions from government bodies and civil society groups. The NDMC had earlier said the appeal did not meet the legal threshold.
Warning: This report contains references to sexual assault
Friday’s coordinated “lie-downs” took place at 15 sites across the country, in cities including Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Support also came from Eswatini, Kenya and Namibia.
Protesters wore black as a symbol of mourning and resistance. The demonstration, called the G20 Women’s Shutdown, was organised by Women for Change – the group behind the online campaign that has pushed thousands of people, including celebrities, to turn their profile pictures purple, a colour associated with GBV awareness. More than one million people have signed an accompanying petition.
On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the G20 Social Summit that South Africa had already declared GBV and femicide a national crisis in 2019. Shortly afterwards, Mr Hlabisa confirmed that the classification had now been elevated to a national disaster, with a formal announcement set for Friday.
Women for Change welcomed the “historic” decision, telling supporters: “We have won. Our persistence has been recognised.”
The classification allows government departments to use existing budgets to “implement every measure possible” to reduce GBV, the cooperative governance ministry said. If progress remains limited, the government could escalate the situation to a national state of disaster, enabling even more urgent interventions.
Before the announcement, Women for Change spokesperson Cameron Kasambala said that while South Africa had introduced “many beautiful acts and legislations”, implementation and transparency had lagged.
“We’ve integrated violence into our culture and social norms,” she said. “Once the government truly reacts, we’ll start to see change on the ground. They set the tone for how the country responds.”
Across South Africa, thousands joined the movement. Grammy-winning singer Tyla and numerous public figures endorsed the “purple movement”, posting purple hearts, clothing and nail polish.
A South African professor, who asked to remain anonymous, said she took leave to travel from Free State to Johannesburg for the silent protest. As someone who feels unsafe doing everyday activities like jogging, she hopes the action will “slow the scourge” of GBV.
Some women, however, faced pushback from employers. One product designer working for a major corporation said staff were strongly advised not to participate.
Others are pursuing their own forms of defence. Lynette Oxeley, whose organisation Girls on Fire trains women in firearm safety, says most members have endured rape, assault or robbery. Firearm ownership is legal in South Africa for self-defence with a valid licence.
Prudence, who joined after being raped in 2022, said her attempt to seek justice collapsed when her rape kit went missing. “It isn’t a police problem, it’s a national problem,” she said.
While Girls on Fire teaches firearm use, Ms Oxeley says the real aim is empowerment. “It’s not about shooting. It’s about changing how women see themselves. Stop being silent,” she said.
“Even if you do not win the fight, at least you are fighting back.”
