Women For Change is leading the fight against GBV in South Africa. And it’s announced a nationwide ‘downing of tools’ on Friday 21 November 2025, one day before world leaders meet for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The organisation is calling it the G20 Women’s Shutdown, and it is taking place right across the nation …
The goal is for all women in South Africa to refrain from all paid and unpaid work on Friday 21 November 2025. As such, with the world watching, Women For Change hopes to demonstrate the economic and social impact of their absence. In turn, boosting the urgent recognition of GBV as a national disaster in South Africa.
WOMEN FOR CHANGE
Back in April 2025, Women For Change handed over a national petition to the South African government. It called for GBV to be declared a national disaster. However, since then, there has been no accountability or meaningful action from government.
According to Sabrina Walter, Executive Director of Women For Change, the shutdown represents a collective outcry from South Africans. “We’ve had enough of the government’s failure to protect women from violence, rape and murder. Every two-and-a-half hours, a woman is killed in South Africa. Now, silence will be our protest. Before the G20 meets, South African women will show them what happens when we disappear,” says Walter.
A CALL TO ARMS TO ALL WOMEN
Furthermore, Women For Change is calling on all businesses, corporates and civil society groups to stand with women in solidarity. To do so, it asks that businesses grant women paid leave on Friday 21 November 2025. This is how corporates can support their employees joining the shutdown.
By increasing the numbers, it will amplify the call for GBV to be declared a national disaster. And force President Cyril Ramaphosa to take immediate and decisive steps to address violence against women and demand accountability. “Because without women, there is no economy. This is a national reckoning and a global call to conscience. The world will be watching and the time is now,” concludes Walter.
Contact Women For Change info@womenforchange.co.za to show your support as a corporate/business.
What do you think? Is GBV a national disaster? And will you be joining the call for a national shutdown on Friday 21 November 2025? Let us know in the comments section below …
