If the streets of Johannesburg seem eerily quiet today, it's because the city is participating in the nationwide G20 Women's Shutdown, championed by the local activist group Women for Change.
The shutdown, which is taking place as South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, is a powerful act of protest against the country's ongoing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) crisis.
The movement asks women and members of the LGBTQI+ community to step back from both paid and unpaid labour for the day, halt all spending, and make visible the economic and social impact of a country where an estimated 15 women are murdered every day. The central call is for the government to declare GBV a national disaster officially.
How to participate in the shutdown
The "Women's Shutdown" is conceptualised as a withdrawal from economic activity rather than a traditional march, allowing for participation across all communities and circumstances. Women for Change has outlined several key ways for women and members of the LGBTQI+ community to take part:
- Withdraw Labour: Refrain from all paid and unpaid work (including domestic labour) for the day. Participants are encouraged to take leave from work or university.
- Economic Boycott: Refrain from spending money for the entire day to highlight women's financial contributions and the impact of their absence.
- The 15-Minute Silent Standstill: At 12:00 PM (noon) SAST, all participants will lie down in silence for 15 minutes to honour the estimated 15 women murdered every day in South Africa.
- Wear Black: Participants are wearing black as a symbol of mourning and resistance.
- Online Solidarity: Change your social media profile picture to purple and use the hashtag #WomenShutdown to amplify the message.
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Johannesburg gathering points for the standstill
While the shutdown is decentralised and can be observed from any safe location (home, work desk, etc.), Women for Change has designated specific, peaceful gathering points in the Gauteng region for the 12:00 PM Silent Standstill.
In Johannesburg, official gathering points include:
- Johannesburg Botanical Gardens (Randburg)
- Constitutional Hill
In Pretoria, gathering points include:
- Aula Lawn, University of Pretoria
- Union Buildings Lawn
Participants are encouraged to arrive at 11:30 AM to ensure the 15-minute lie-down begins exactly at noon. The organisation emphasises that these are non-confrontational, peaceful gatherings and that no formal marches are planned.
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