Central SA
National shutdown called over GBV crisis – ahead of G20 summit─── REFILWE BEKANE 10:00 Thu, 13 Nov 2025
Women For Change has announced a national shutdown for Friday, 21 November – urging women and the LGBTQI+ community to withdraw from all paid and unpaid labour in protest against the prevalence of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
This action is timed to take place one day before the G20 summit in Johannesburg. The movement demands that GBVF be officially declared a national disaster in South Africa.
The call for the shutdown follows official communication on Wednesday, 5 November, when the organisation received a letter from the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) rejecting their petition to have GBVF declared a national disaster.
“We’ve been calling simply for gender-based violence to be called a national disaster,” said advocacy and operations manager at Women For Change Merlize Jogiat. “Women are dying at alarming rates, and at this stage we feel like the authorities and the government aren’t taking it as seriously as it needs to be.”
The organisation continues to call for an overhaul of systems like the police and courts to ensure accountability for officials who fail survivors. Photo: Women for Change
The crisis has fundamentally affected the rights of women and children. A core motivation for the shutdown is the belief that government is not treating the violence with the required seriousness, said Jogiat. The withdrawal of productivity aims to demonstrate the significant economic and social role women play in the country.
“It’s as simple as we are not safe anywhere we go. Every moment of every day, we have micro thoughts of how to keep ourselves safe just in case we are attacked or killed, or harassed. That’s not normal,” Jogiat add.
The organisation arranged an urgent meeting for Thursday (13/11) following the NDMC rejection.
The meeting was scheduled with the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Velenkosini Hlabisa, who is responsible for national disaster declarations. The ANC Women’s League and other ministers are also set to attend.
“The most important thing they can do is speak out and hold government accountable,” said Jogiat.
Beyond the one-day shutdown, the organisation plans to continue its non-violent pressure, including the ongoing Unbury the Casket campaign and engaging with international organisations.
They continue to call for an overhaul of systems like the police and courts to ensure accountability for officials who fail survivors.
“We have now established that it’s a fight between government and the women of this country who live in fear for their lives.”
Women For Change will provide an update after the meeting.
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