Women For Change takes to the streets on Friday, calling for GBV to be declared a national disaster

Mapaballo Borotho

Women For Change will take to the streets on Friday in a nationwide march demanding that Gender-Based Violence be declared a national disaster.
Participants are urged to withdraw from all labour and dress in black to honour the women murdered daily in South Africa.
Marches will be held across all nine provinces, supported by several civil society organisations.

Non-profit organisation Women For Change has called on women across South Africa to join Friday’s nationwide march demanding that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) be declared a national disaster.

The march planned for weeks and symbolised by thousands of purple profile pictures online, comes just a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa officially declared GBV a national crisis. The peaceful protest aims not only to urge government intervention, but also to honour victims and give voice to those who have suffered or lost their lives to GBV.

A number of civil society groups, including human rights movement Not In My Name, have endorsed the march, describing GBV as a pandemic that continues to devastate South African communities.

What you need to know about the march:

• The action aims to “silence the nation” a day before the G20 summit.

• Women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are encouraged to withdraw from all paid and unpaid labour in workplaces, universities, homes and communities to highlight their economic and social impact.

• Participants will dress in black to honour the 15 women murdered every day in South Africa.

National meetup points:

• Gauteng: Aula Lawn at the University of Pretoria and the Union Buildings.

• Western Cape: Sea Point Promenade, Cape Town, and Stellenbosch University.

• Northern Cape: Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley.

• Eastern Cape: East London and Gqeberha.

• KwaZulu-Natal: North Beach and South Beach, Durban.

• North West: North-West University, Potchefstroom.

• Limpopo: University of Limpopo.

• Free State: University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

Participants have been urged to remain peaceful and avoid any form of violence or disruption during the demonstration.