WATCH: ‘Enough is enough’: South Africans march against gender-based violence
Hundreds of South Africans marched and lay in the streets across major cities to demand urgent action, as gender-based violence was officially declared a national crisis.
A powerful moment of silence set the tone as hundreds of Women for Change supporters gathered across major cities, honouring the women who never made it back home.
@albertonrecord Residents of Eden Park came out in numbers for an anti-GBV gathering on November 21. Details on albertonrecord.co.za #stopgbv #EdenPark #stopgbvsatiktok🤎🤎🇿🇦 #Alberton #Ekurhuleni ♬ Sad song by piano(899444) – NOVA
Some participants lay down in the streets, creating a striking visual meant to show the weight of gender-based violence in South Africa.
@gingerwithagopro #GBV #enoughisenough #genderbasedvoilence #capetown #southafrica ♬ original sound – GINGERWITHAGOPRO
In a statement shared on Facebook, Women for Change wrote, “Today, we gather for the women who never made it back home. For the sisters, daughters, and mothers whose voices were stolen too soon. We gather for those who are still here with us. To every survivor suffering in silence: We do this for you. We see you. We do this for our children, our sisters, and our brothers, for every life that deserves safety and freedom.”
@smanga_mwelase GBV ends when we refuse to stay silent. Protect. Support. Speak out.💜🖤#gbv #stopgbvsatiktok🤎🤎🇿🇦 #enoughisenough ♬ Madoda Sabelani – Lloyiso
The movement said the march was a stand against a crisis that continues to rob families of loved ones. Their supporters shut down parts of several cities, calling on government and society to unite and demand an end to gender-based violence.
@siyathandwasays Thank you East London 💜💜💜💜iMonti stands against GBV 🔥🤌🏾#gbv #womenforchange #easterncapetiktok #southafrica #viralvideo ♬ original sound – Siyathandwa
Across communities, the message was clear: “Enough is enough.”
GBV declared a national crisis
President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally classified gender-based violence and femicide as a “national crisis,” acknowledging pressure from civil society and the rising number of reported cases.
@mackayala.naidoo Thank you, President Cyril Ramaphosa!💜🇿🇦 #gbv #womenforchange #g20southafrica #sayhername ♬ original sound – Mackayala Naidoo
He made the remarks on Thursday while receiving the G20 Social Summit declaration in Boksburg, saying the country can no longer treat GBV as a secondary issue.
The numbers show the scale of the crisis
Recent data continues to paint a deeply worrying picture:
- According to the HSRC’s First South African National GBV Study, 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.
- 9.3% of women reported experiencing non-partner sexual violence, according to the State of the Nation factsheet.
Women with disabilities remain at the highest risk:
- 29.3% reported lifetime physical violence (HSRC).
- 14.6% experienced sexual violence from a partner, double the rate of women without disabilities.
- 60% experienced controlling behaviour in relationships (State of the Nation GBV Factsheet).
- Domestic violence reports have almost doubled between 2020/21 and 2023/24, according to recent national monitoring reports.
- Crime statistics for early 2025 show more than 10,688 rape cases reported in the first quarter alone, with Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape identified as high-risk provinces.
@mialouisedutoit Cape Town showing up for their women this morning. ✊💜🖤 @womenforchange.sa #endGBV #gbvsouthafrica #womenforchange #nationalshutdown ♬ original sound – Mia Du Toit
These figures reflect the lived experiences of thousands of women who continue to face violence in homes, workplaces, and communities.
A call for real change
For Women for Change and many other advocacy groups, the latest marches are more than symbolic; they are a demand for action.
@weekendargus Thousands of women gathered on the Sea Point Promenade this morning, dressed in black and united in a powerful call to end gender-based violence. Marchers called for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide to be declared a National Disaster, highlighting the devastating reality that a woman is killed every 2.5 hours in South Africa. Their message was clear and urgent. No more delays, no more empty promises, it’s time for action. Photographer: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers #nationalshutdown #gbv #femicideawareness #declaregbvfanationaldisaster #womenforchange ♬ original sound – Weekend Argus
Activists are calling for stronger policing, faster court processes, harsher sentences, and improved protection services for survivors.
Stop GBV in South Africa and World wide... Paint the universe purple. 💜💜💜💜#endgbv #NationalShutdown #stopgbv #G20SouthAfrica #g20 pic.twitter.com/np7PwPt8Fz
— IG:MasizoleSukwana 🇿🇦 (@MasizoleSukwana) November 21, 2025
As the movement continues to gather momentum, one message echoes across the country: South African women deserve to live free, safe, and without fear.
