IN only 90 days, close to 1 000 South African women were murdered and over 10 000 were raped. The Human Sciences Research Council reported that from July to September 2024, 957 women were killed, 1 567 survived attempted murder and 14 366 suffered assaults resulting in grievous bodily harm. During the same period, 10 191 rapes were recorded.

Also read: Community uniting against GBV

As gender-based violence continues to surge, South Africans, including the Brighton Beach Victim Friendly Centre, are uniting for the G20 Women’s Shutdown on November 21, a national call for action coinciding with the G20 conference.

The message behind the shutdown

The G20 Women’s Shutdown was organised by Women for Change, a non-profit organisation dedicated to highlighting the brutality women and children of South Africa have had to endure at the hand of gender-based violence. The Brighton Beach Victim Friendly Centre has pledged full support, standing in solidarity with victims as they call for decisive measures to curb what has become one of the world’s most violent GBV epidemics.

Chairperson of the centre, Chantal Bransgrove-Bower said the shutdown reflects the centre’s main mission of ensuring survivors are heard, supported and empowered.

“As a victim support centre, our primary goal is to ensure the victim feels heard and supported, so that they can feel empowered and move from being a victim to a victor. Unfortunately, there are so many cases where people are not heard, where they feel they cannot reach out, or if they do, no one listens. It is important for all these women and children to know that there are people who care and will stand by and support them,” said Bransgrove-Bower.

Women for Change reported that 5 578 women were murdered in South Africa in just one year, a staggering 33% increase from the last year, and that the country’s femicide rate is now six times the global average.

Also read: Southlands Sun 21 November 2025

Bransgrove-Bower said the trauma facing the nation can no longer be overlooked.

“We have to make sure that our country, but more importantly our government, understand the trauma that is plaguing our country at this time. With the statistics so high, we need to ensure that this is not ignored, and we bring about change. While we know that men can and do succumb to traumatic crime, women have fought hard to get here, and we cannot just allow these crimes to be committed without consequence. If we all take a stand together, united and let the world know we will no longer tolerate it, maybe we can bring about change,” she said.

The Brighton Beach Victim Friendly Centre has taken a strong stance in encouraging people to become upstanders instead of bystanders.

“If you see something, say something. Move from being a bystander to being an upstander. Listen when children tell you things, take note when they are scared of someone. Be their voice when they cannot speak. We also need to instill a culture of lifting other women up and empowering them to achieve success. Let’s become pillars and together take a stand. It does not happen overnight, but if we all consciously make a commitment to take a stand, eventually change will come,” she said.

How to get involved

The Brighton Beach Victim Friendly Centre will join the national shutdown by gathering at the traffic lights on Tara Road outside Oxford at 12:00 on November 21. Members will lie down for 15 minutes before distributing information to raise awareness.

Women for Change has outlined several ways the public can participate:

• If possible, down tools for the day.
• Do not spend money or participate in the economy for 24 hours.
• Join the national standstill at 12:00 for 15 minutes to honour the 15 women who are murdered each day.
• Wear black in mourning and resistance.
• Change social media profile pictures to purple to increase visibility.

Caxton Local Media also expressed its full support for the initiative, encouraging the community to participate in any of the suggested actions.

Organisations like the Brighton Beach Victim Friendly Centre are among those sending a loud and clear message saying enough is enough.

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