PHOTO ESSAY: National Shutdown protesters demand action on gender-based violence and femicide

Thousands of South African women made their voices heard all over the country in a national protest against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) on Friday, 21 November. The protest, deliberately held on the eve of the G20 meetings in Johannesburg, served to highlight the horrifying GBVF statistics in South Africa and a demand that the issue be declared a national emergency.

Every day in South Africa, at least 15 women are murdered and 117 women report that they have been raped. During the protest, women (and men) all over the country observed a 15-minute standstill at noon to draw attention to the crisis.

On Thursday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence and femicide a national crisis. This, however, is scant consolation for the family of Gaby Ndaba, who was murdered two years ago.

Since her body was found near a bridge underpass in Boksburg in 2023, her family have battled the authorities for closure and explanations. Police say the case is still under investigation.

On Friday, GBVF was classified as a national disaster. Our City Network covered the protests across Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.

Read more: Gender-based violence and femicide declared national disaster, but with caveats

Similar protests took place across the country. DM

This article is produced by Our City News, a non-profit newsroom that serves the people of Johannesburg.