OVER THE past week, South Africa has turned purple in support for non-profit organisation, Women for Change’s G20 National Shutdown on November 21.

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The movement spread like wildfire across all social media platforms, with thousands of users changing their profile pictures purple in support of and to spread awareness of the shutdown. In an online petition, over a million signatures were received in support of Women for Change’s call to declare Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) a national disaster.

Amanzimtoti businesswoman, Mishka Bedderson, who spearheaded the organisation of a local meeting point in Amanzimtoti, said she first came across the shutdown on social media, and it immediately resonated with her.

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She explained that the message behind it reflects the daily reality of many women across countless communities.

“It struck a deeply personal chord. In my own family, three generations of women have experienced some form of gender-based violence or sexual assault. It is something that hit very close to home and I have made the decision that it ends with me. I refuse to allow this cycle to continue into the next generation,” said Bedderson.

She said that she knows of women who have lived through painful experiences, and those who kept silent, survived but carried their trauma alone.

“Silence is no longer an option. GBV in South Africa has become a national disaster and it is not treated with the seriousness it deserves. We need to protect our women, our sisters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers and friends. We should not have to fear walking down the street, nor should we have to be in relationships where a backhand is normalised or make excuses at work for bruises. We need our government to take firm, decisive action against perpetrators of violence,” she added.

Bedderson said that by supporting and spreading the word about the march, you stand with every woman who has ever felt unsafe, unheard or unprotected.

“We are not doing this only for the women of today, but also young girls growing up,  baby girls being born and for every future woman. We must create a safer country for them now,” concluded Bedderson.

The numbers behind the shutdown

• During the past year, over 5 500 women were murdered.
• A woman is killed every 2.5 hours in South Africa.
• South Africa’s femicide rate has risen by almost 34% in just a year and is six times the global average.
• Over 117 rapes are reported daily, with countless more going unheard.

How can you participate?

• Do not work. Do not carry out any paid or unpaid labour.
• Do not spend money. Withdraw from the economy for one day.
• Join the 15-minute standstill by lying down for 15 minutes at 12:00 to honour the 15 women murdered every day.
• Wear black to stand in mourning and resistance.
• Check the nationwide meeting points with the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TtWJY2rsob3-uyvkGzFObjVV2UJD7vEMfiOI2m9x_NM/edit?usp=sharing
• Change your profile picture to purple. Visit the following site to download the purple background: https://womenforchange.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Profile-Image-Purple.png
• Talk about it, share posters using #WomenShutdown, make the shutdown impossible to ignore.

For more information, visit https://womenforchange.co.za/g20-women-shutdown/.

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