THOUSANDS MARCH AGAINST GBV AS SOUTH AFRICA HOSTS THE G20: A DEFINING MOMENT IN THE COUNTRY’S SOCIAL AND POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

On Friday, 21 November 2025, South Africa reached a critical inflection point in its response to gender-based violence (GBV). As thousands of women and allies mobilised across major cities, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) formally classified gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.

The timing was highly symbolic. The decision and the marches coincided with South Africa hosting world leaders for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. With global attention on the country, activists and policymakers alike were forced to confront the disconnect between high-level political discussions and the daily realities faced by women, girls and other vulnerable groups.

GBV: A National Outcry in a Global Spotlight

In Johannesburg, participants gathered in the city centre early on Friday morning before proceeding along pre-approved routes monitored by civil-society observers and police officials. Similar demonstrations took place in Cape Town, Durban and smaller towns nationwide, underscoring the breadth of public concern.

Protesters carried placards calling for accountability, a more effective state response and stronger protection for communities at risk. Many expressed deep frustration that repeated policy commitments have not yet translated into consistent, measurable change on the ground.

As international delegations convened for the G20, organisers stressed that GBV is not a “social” issue at the margins, but a structural crisis intertwined with economic inequality, governance, the rule of law and social stability, core themes on the G20 agenda.

From Protest to National Disaster Classification

Against this backdrop, government’s decision to classify GBVF as a national disaster marked a significant shift in the state’s formal posture toward the crisis.

The classification:

• Elevates GBVF to the status of a national disaster, requiring coordinated action across all spheres of government and organs of state.

• Unlocks specific disaster-management powers and obligations under the Disaster Management Act, including strengthened planning, resourcing and monitoring of GBVF responses

• Creates an explicit expectation of urgency, comparable to other large‑scale threats to life, safety and social stability.

Government representatives at G20 side sessions fielded questions from international media about how this new disaster classification will be operationalised, and what it means for South Africa’s broader commitments to constitutional rights, social cohesion and inclusive economic growth.

G20 Delegates Confront South Africa’s Reality

For many global observers attending the summit, the marches and the national-disaster classification were stark reminders that international commitments are ultimately judged against local outcomes.

Discussions on women’s safety, labour-market participation and social protection inside the summit venue were amplified by the visible mobilisation taking place just beyond the security perimeter. Several visiting delegations referenced the protests and the disaster classification in public briefings, noting that the voices of South African women provided a powerful backdrop to conversations on development, governance and equity.

A Moment That May Shape Policy Priorities

The events of 21 November have already reignited debate about the adequacy of South Africa’s legislative and institutional frameworks for addressing GBV. Although the country has comparatively robust laws and policy instruments on paper, activists and practitioners consistently highlight gaps in implementation, funding, data, enforcement and survivor support.

The national-disaster classification, combined with the heightened visibility of the G20 Summit, has now:

• Reframed GBV as a structural governance and development challenge, not merely a criminal-justice or “social” issue.

• Increased pressure on state institutions to demonstrate measurable progress on prevention, protection, prosecution and support services.

• Opened space for stronger partnerships with business, civil society and the legal sector to support and monitor implementation.

As the summit concluded, images of thousands of women filling the streets, demanding safety, justice and accountability, left a lasting impression. Whether this moment becomes a genuine turning point will depend on how government, institutions, business and broader society respond in the months and years ahead.

For policymakers and legal actors in particular, the challenge now is to translate the national-disaster classification from a powerful symbolic step into sustained, systemic reform that meaningfully improves the lives of women, children and other vulnerable groups across South Africa.