My experience at SA's G20 Women's shutdown

The G20 leader’s summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg. [EMMANUEL CROSET/AFP]

A lot was happening in South Africa in November, from G20 diplomatic drama to nationwide protests against gender-based violence. The G20 Summit had its fair share of tension, a diplomatic storm between Washington and Pretoria.

The US was to attend but boycotted the meeting, citing claims that “South Africa is killing the Afrikaners.” South Africa was to hand over the G20 presidency to the US, but after the boycott, President Ramaphosa announced he would hand it over to an empty chair.

What followed was a war of words. Washington accused Ramaphosa of “running his mouth a little bit,” while Pretoria fired back, calling Washington a bully and insisting the G20 would continue with or without them. The matters evolved by the day. By the time I was writing this article, the situation had escalated further, with Marco Rubio, the 72nd US Secretary of State, stating, “President Trump and the US will not be extending an invitation to the South African government to participate in the G20 during our presidency.”

It was a remarkable diplomatic snub, unprecedented in recent G20 history, and it intensified the already charged political atmosphere. Amid all this political theatre, women in South Africa staged the G20 Women’s Shutdown, a nationwide protest against gender-based violence. The timing was strategic. The annual 16 Days of Activism, a global annual campaign that takes place from late November into early December, spotlights gender-based violence and demands accountability. The G20 Women’s Shutdown aligned perfectly with this period of heightened awareness, capturing national and international attention.

The statistics are shocking. South Africa has some of the world’s highest femicide rates, with UN Women estimating that women are killed five times more than the global average. Between April 2023 and March 2024, 5,578 women were murdered, and 42,569 cases of rape were reported, though an estimated 95 percent go unreported. One in three women has experienced physical violence, and nearly 10 per cent has suffered sexual violence. The protest was organised by the NGO Women For Change, which urged women to refrain from all paid and unpaid work for the day and to spend no money, a symbolic demonstration of the economic and social impact of women’s absence. The statement read, “Because until South Africa stops burying a woman every 2.5 hours, the G20 cannot speak of growth and progress.”

At Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, where I attended, women held a peaceful 15-minute silent lie-down protest, representing the 15 women killed daily. The memo asked participants to wear black with a touch of purple, though I missed it and showed up in my red dress. Millions of users also changed their profile pictures to purple or added a purple background in a powerful show of unity against gender-based violence and femicide. Celebrities, including Grammy award winner Tyla, joined in, amplifying the message online.

Survivors wept as they lay on the ground. Others held placards reading, “Why do you hate us?” and “My body is not your crime scene.” The scene was emotional and powerful, a nation’s grief and outrage laid bare. Unlike in Kenya, the gathering was peaceful. No teargas, no harassment, no chaos.

Yet it was clear the government was embarrassed. Under the glare of the G20 spotlight, Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence a national disaster. South Africa is full of contradictions. Wealth and danger coexist side by side, shaped by extreme inequality. Being part of this protest made me think about Kenya. Just like South Africa, gender-based violence is a pressing issue at home. Now, as the 16 Days of Activism are underway, we have an opportunity and a duty to look inward, challenge harmful norms, and demand real protection for women and girls.

As we reflect on the G20 Women’s Shutdown and the 16 Days of Activism, the question is: what must we do differently to end the scourge of gender-based violence?

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