South Africa has declared gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide a national disaster, following massive public protests, online campaigns, and mounting pressure from civil society. The announcement came on Friday after women across major cities staged symbolic 15-minute lie-downs to honour the 15 women killed every day in the country. The decision follows a fresh reassessment by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) after earlier rejecting calls for disaster classification due to legal constraints.
Women in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and 12 other locations were urged to withdraw from the economy for a full day and lie down at midday to represent the daily toll of femicide. The demonstrations formed part of the G20 Women’s Shutdown organised by the advocacy group Women for Change. Support also poured in from neighbouring countries, including Namibia, Eswatini and Kenya. The movement’s presence was equally strong online, where thousands including celebrities turned their profile photos purple, the colour associated with GBV awareness. An online petition backing the campaign has already crossed one million signatures.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed that GBV and femicide had been reclassified as a disaster after reviewing updated submissions from government bodies and civil organisations. He said the decision was made in light of persistent, immediate threats to life and safety posed by ongoing violence. He added that the classification allows government departments to use dedicated budgets to implement targeted measures to protect women. If these steps fail, the country may escalate to a full national state of disaster, enabling emergency interventions.
South Africa records one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. UN Women estimates that South African women are killed at five times the global average. President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking at the G20 Social Summit this week, recalled that the government had declared GBV a national crisis in 2019. With the latest decision, the crisis has now been upgraded to a national disaster.
The G20 Women’s Shutdown saw women dressed in black as a sign of mourning and resistance. Cameron Kasambala, spokesperson for Women for Change, told BBC that despite several progressive policies, implementation failures and weak transparency have undermined efforts. She said violence had “integrated into our culture and social norms,” adding that strong government action would set the tone for how the country responds on the ground.
Global artists have amplified the movement. Grammy award-winning singer Tyla supported the campaign through the “purple movement”, sharing purple outfits and symbols in solidarity. Many women travelled long distances to join the protests. A Johannesburg-based professor told BBC she took leave from work to participate, hoping the demonstrations would slow the “scourge” of violence.
Protests have also faced resistance. Some women reported warnings from employers not to join demonstrations, reflecting the deep tensions surrounding activism and workplace constraints.
Beyond protests, some women are turning to self-defence measures. Lynette Oxeley, who founded Girls on Fire, trains women to handle firearms. She emphasised that using a weapon is a last resort and the real goal is empowerment. One participant, Prudence who was raped in 2022 and later saw evidence from her case disappear—said systemic failure had left women vulnerable. “It isn’t a police problem, it is a nation problem,” she told.
As the country confronts its long-running crisis, activists say the new disaster classification is a crucial step, but warn that meaningful change depends on sustained political will, better law enforcement, and stronger protection systems for women across South Africa.