On 21 November, the non-profit Women for Change (WFC) will lead a national shutdown across South Africa to protest the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The campaign calls on women and all allies to step away from both paid and unpaid work, refrain from spending, wear black in solidarity, and at 12:00 pm, lie down for 15 minutes to represent the 15 women murdered every day in South Africa.
A Nation in Crisis
The statistics are staggering: in the year ending March 2024, 5,578 women and 1,656 children were murdered, and 42,569 rapes were reported, while an estimated 95% of rape cases go unreported. South Africa’s femicide rate is six times the global average, showing the severity of the emergency. WFC is demanding that GBVF be declared a national disaster, calling for dedicated resources, accountability, and urgent government intervention.
Timing with Global Attention
The shutdown happens with South Africa’s hosting of the G20 Summit, strategically drawing global attention to the country’s GBV crisis. It is a symbolic act that exposes the often invisible value of women’s labour and highlights how society and the economy rely on their presence.
A Call for Solidarity and Change
For brands, businesses, and communities, 21 November is an opportunity to show solidarity by raising awareness, supporting employees and survivors, pausing operations at noon, and amplifying the campaign’s message.
The message is clear: when women stop, society stops. Their absence reveals both the depth of their contribution and the urgency for action. Until every woman can live free from violence, South Africa cannot truly move forward.
