Women stand in solidarity at Port Shepstone Court

Women For Change called for a national shutdown to draw attention to the devastating crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. Local non-profit organisation, Ignite Revolution, which is deeply committed to raising awareness and driving solutions, stood in solidarity by hosting a gathering at the Port Shepstone Court last Friday.

Many community members got together and joined for a solemn and meaningful stand against GBV. The event opened with 15 minutes of silence, symbolising the 15 women whose lives are taken every single day.

“South Africa remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. An estimated 177 rapes are reported daily, and this number does not reflect the true scale of the crisis, countless cases go unreported because of fear, stigma and shame. Femicide rates remain among the highest globally, with women far more likely to be killed by intimate partners in South Africa than the international average. They are not just numbers they are lives, families and futures stolen,” said Jessica Naicker of Ignite Revolution.

She added that their decision to gather at the courthouse was intentional. “This is a place that represents justice, yet it is also where victims and survivors often face delays, failures and systemic shortcomings. It was a call for accountability and reform, a declaration that justice must prevail for every woman and child. It was both a public stance and a spiritual one, urging the nation to confront a broken system and demand better,” she said.

The 15 minutes of silence was followed with a prayer and acknowledgment that while laws, awareness and interventions are necessary, true and lasting change requires a deeper transformation.

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