20 November 2025

'The South African government is failing to respond with urgency!' - Women For Change ahead of G20 Women's Shutdown


Photo Credit: Instagram/womenforchangesa

Johannesburg - Women For Change (WFC) founder Sabrina Walter has called out the South African government's apathy towards the Gender-Based-Violence and Femicide (GBVF) "crisis".

This comes after the organisation was "invited last-minute to  speak at the G20 Social Summit" which took place at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni in Boksburg this week.

She said upon arrival at the venue - from a self-paid flight from Cape Town - she learned that she "was scheduled in the same speaker round as the Minister of Women, Children, and People with Disabilities" which is led by Minister Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga.

"She delivered her speech first, then walked out without listening to a single word from us. She walked out of the room," she said.

"I prepared a ten-minute speech, and just before I took the stage, they told me I had three minutes. A three-minute speech, delivered late at night after every Minister had already left, to address the biggest human rights crisis in South Africa.

"Three minutes - for the 15 women murdered every single day. That is how 'important' GBVF is to our leaders," said the activist.

She said that GBVF is a human rights crisis and the South African government is not responding accordingly.

"In those three minutes, I told them the truth: Gender-based violence and femicide is not a crime problem. It is not political. It is a human rights crisis, and the South African government is failing to respond with the urgency it demands," she said.

G20 Women's Shutdown

Walter said that the main focus right now is on the upcoming G20 women's shutdown.

"The world has heard us - loud and clear. Now South African leaders must finally listen. In just two days, the women of this country will lead the biggest shutdown South Africa has ever seen," she said.

This coming Friday - 21st of November - shortly before the highly anticipated G20 Leaders' summit in South Africa - Women For Change has called on women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community to refrain from any form of economic participation in the country.

"On Friday, 21st of November, at 12 pm, women, children and members of the LGBTQIA+ community across South Africa will gather in towns, cities and communities for a silent nationwide 15-minute lie-down. Dressed in black, to honour the lives of the 15 women murdered every single day. A moment of unity, grief and collective power to demonstrate that, enough is enough," said the organisation.

The G20 Leaders Summit will be held at the Nasrec Expo Centre on Saturday the 22nd of November till Sunday the 23rd of November in Johannesburg.

 It is the first G20 Summit to be held on the African continent.

Also Read'Enough is enough!' - Nadia Nakai postpones duet single with Nasty C in support of G20 women's national shutdown.

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