Women For Change has called a nationwide shutdown for Friday, 21 November 2025, the day before the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. Specifically, organizers urge women and LGBTQI+ people to pause both paid and unpaid work. They also advise avoiding spending for the day to show the country’s reliance on their labour and buying power. Additionally, at 12:00 they ask participants to hold a 15-minute silent standstill with a lie-down. This honours women killed by gender-based violence as part of the Women For Change shutdown.
Why Link it to the G20
The Women For Change shutdown coincides with global leaders arriving in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 November. Therefore, campaigners want the Presidency to declare gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster. They argue that South Africa cannot talk about growth and investment while communities lose women to violence every day. Consequently, by linking the action to the summit and the Women For Change shutdown, they aim to push GBVF onto the national agenda with urgency.
How to Take Part
To participate, supporters can take simple steps. First, do not work if you can take leave or arrange cover. Next, avoid spending money for the day. Then wear black to signal solidarity. Online, switch profile photos to purple to keep the message visible. At midday, step away from your desk, classroom, shop floor or home duties and join the 15-minute standstill. Finally, men can back the shutdown by supporting leave requests, sharing information, and taking on care duties for the day. This shows their support for the Women For Change shutdown.
The Demand and the Next Steps
Ultimately, the Women For Change shutdown puts one clear demand on the table: declare GBVF a national disaster now. In practice, that step would unlock stronger coordination, targeted funding, and clear timelines for prevention, protection, and justice. Because of this, organisers say one day of coordinated action can move decision-makers to treat GBVF like the emergency it is. After the Women For Change shutdown, they plan to keep pressure on officials with petitions, submissions, and community-level organising until concrete commitments land. Until then, Women For Change will continue to work until their demands are met.
