UFS Joins Women for Change G20 Women’s Shutdown in Nationwide Stand Against GBV and Femicide Ahead of Global Summit

Bloemfontein – The University of the Free State (UFS) has thrown its full support behind the Women for Change G20 Women’s Shutdown, a powerful national call to action aimed at combating gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide in South Africa. In a show of solidarity, the university has approved a 15-minute silent demonstration set for noon on Friday, 21 November 2025, across all three of its campuses in Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South Campus. This move comes as women and members of the LGBTQI+ community gear up for a nationwide protest, withdrawing from paid and unpaid labour to highlight the urgent crisis of violence against women, just days after the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.

The initiative, organised by the non-profit activist group Women for Change, seeks to pressure the government into declaring GBV a national disaster. With an average of 15 women murdered daily in South Africa, the shutdown aims to “silence the nation” and demand real change, drawing attention to the systemic failures that allow such violence to persist.

UFS’s Approved Demonstration: How Students and Staff Can Participate

UFS management has encouraged its entire Kovsie community – students, staff, and faculty – to join the peaceful protest, emphasising that real change requires collective effort. “Real change requires every one of us. Silence is complicity – together, we choose to speak,” the university stated in its announcement.
Participants are invited to:

Wear purple or black to symbolise mourning and solidarity.

Join the 15-minute silent demonstration at designated spots:
• Bloemfontein Campus: Main Building
• Qwaqwa Campus: Intsika Building
• South Campus: Next to the Cafeteria

Bring a handwritten message or poster to amplify personal voices against GBV.

Make a personal commitment to support victims, intervene safely where possible, share resources, and engage in UFS-led GBV initiatives.

The university’s Black Forum South Africa – UFS Student Chapter has also voiced strong support, urging members to stand united in the fight. This campus-wide involvement reflects UFS’s ongoing commitment to gender equality and safety, with previous efforts including awareness campaigns and support services for survivors.

The Broader Context: Women for Change’s G20 Women’s Shutdown Explained
The G20 Women’s Shutdown, scheduled for Friday, 21 November 2025, is a direct response to the alarming rates of GBV and femicide in South Africa, where statistics show one woman is killed every three hours. Organised by Women for Change – a leading advocacy group founded in 2020 to combat violence against women and children – the protest calls on women and LGBTQI+ individuals to:

• Withdraw labour: Stay away from work, university, or school.
• Halt economic activity: Avoid spending money to underscore women’s vital role in the economy.
• Participate in silent protests: Lie down or stand in silence for 15 minutes at 12:00 noon to honour victims and demand action.

The timing, just after the G20 Summit on 18-19 November 2025, is strategic. As world leaders discuss global issues like equality and sustainability under South Africa’s presidency theme of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” activists aim to spotlight the domestic crisis of GBV, urging international attention and government response. Women for Change has emphasised: “This shutdown is about survival, not aesthetics,” rejecting superficial gestures in favour of substantive policy changes.

The movement has gained traction nationwide, with calls for the government to declare GBV a national disaster, increase funding for shelters, and enforce stricter laws against perpetrators. Reports indicate similar silent demonstrations planned in major cities, workplaces, and other universities, amplifying the call to end the violence that claims thousands of lives annually.
South Africa’s GBV Crisis: Statistics and Ongoing Challenges

South Africa grapples with one of the world’s highest rates of GBV and femicide, with over 42,000 reported rapes and 15,000 murders of women in 2024 alone, according to police data. The crisis has been exacerbated by socioeconomic factors like poverty, unemployment, and cultural norms that perpetuate inequality. Despite initiatives like the National Strategic Plan on GBV (2020-2030), implementation has been slow, with underfunded support services and low conviction rates – only about 8% for reported rapes.

Activists point to systemic failures, including police inefficiencies and judicial backlogs, which leave survivors vulnerable. The G20 Women’s Shutdown builds on previous protests, like the 2019 #AmINext movement, demanding urgent reforms such as specialised GBV courts and better victim protection.

Government responses have included President Cyril Ramaphosa’s calls for action during the G20, but critics argue more concrete steps are needed. The summit’s focus on gender equality could provide a platform, but local groups like Women for Change insist domestic priorities must come first.

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