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Civil society organizations in South Africa comprised of a broad collective of human rights and women’s rights organizations and Trade Unions add their voice to the call for immediate and decisive action towards ending violence against women in South Africa. 

We call upon every woman in South Africa to join us on the 1st of August to march peacefully in protest of the violence with impunity targeted at women. We demand that the government of South Africa pay particular attention to the continued and increasing spate of violence against women and girls and take concrete measures to end the violation of women’s right to life, dignity and security of persons. 

We call for a National Indaba on ending violence against women as an avenue of addressing the plights of women across South Africa.
“Women continue to die at the hands of intimate partners, known and unknown perpetrators and a larger number still, are living with physical and psycho-social disabilities that are a result of violence against women” said Patience Mungwari Mpani, Women’s Rights Programme Manager, Centre for Human Rights, Pretoria.

“Women in South Africa regardless of age, class and geographical location live in constant fear of physical harm and have to daily navigate emotional and verbal abuse in both private and public settings”, she added.
Violence against women and girls in all of its forms has continued unabated in South Africa, with daily reports, lived realities and annual statistics, painting a grim picture of vulnerability and violation.

“As Civil Society Organizations, and individuals working with survivors of violence, we stand together with the women of South Africa who are saying enough is enough- we cannot continue to live like this- it cannot be business as usual while we are being brutalized, violated and killed”, added Nondumiso Nsibande, Executive Director, Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre.

We therefore support and add our voice to the call to action, for a peaceful march on the 1st of August as a means of sending the message that women are dying, we are living maimed lives due to violence and this must stop.

We call on like-minded women and girls to march with the rest of the women of South Africa who have had enough and would like to see an end to this violence

We call upon the President Cyril Ramaphosa, the government of South Africa to take immediate and decisive steps to address the scourge of violence against women.

We also call on the President to commit to holding a national indaba on violence against women before the end of this year’s Women’s month.

The purpose of this meeting should be to bring together all relevant stakeholders to deliberate on this plight and come up with clear resolutions, time lines and mandates to bring an end to violence against women.

We need an end to violence against women and the time for action is NOW!!!
For more information please contact:

  1. Ms Nondumiso Nsibande, Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre
    Email: nondumiso@tlac.org.za; Mobile 084 456 2813
  2. Ms Nonhlanhla Sibanda, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
    Email: nsibanda@csvr.org.za; Mobile 074 581 9401
  3. Ms Patience Mungwari Mpani, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
    Email: patience.mpani@up.ac.za; Mobile 074 055 2868
  4. COSATU:
    Getrude Metsweni 082 829 296/ Patricia Nyman 082 336 5377

This Press Statement is endorsed by the following organisations/individuals:

  • Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre to end violence against women and girls
  • Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
  • Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
  • Lawyers against Abuse
  • Lifeline Free State
  • Tears Foundation
  • Lawyers for Human Rights
  • Lungelo Women’s Organisation
  • UNISA Women’s Forum
  • UNISA Gender Studies Department
  • Oxfam South Africa
  • Sonke Gender Justice
  • The South Africa Women in Dialogue
  • Marystella Auma Simiyu
  • Fiona Nicholson
  • Centre for Law Society (UCT)
  • Centre for Applied Legal Studies
  • Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme, Limpopo
  • Lifeline Pietermaritzburg
  • Nokulunga Magubane
  • Greater Rape Intervention Project (GRIP), Mpumalanga
  • Ikhwezi Womens Support Centre
  • Partners in Sexual Health Support, Cape Town
  • Greater Rape Intervention Project
  • COSATU
  • FEDUSA
  • SACCAWU

Media Advisory

25 July 2018

On the 1st of August, women and gender non-conforming people will be marching across the country under the banner of #TheTotalShutdown: Intersectional women’s march against gender-based violence.

Over the last two months, the movement has been able to mobilise more than 100 000 intersectional women and gender non-conforming individuals to form part of this mass action.

Femicide and gender-based violence continue to rise in this country and a comprehensive plan is needed to deal with it.

Members of the media are invited to a press briefing that will outline the national plan for 01 August 2018. At the briefing, we will also release the framework of the demands that will be handed over to the President at the Union buildings, the Speaker of Parliament in Cape Town and to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.

The NGO sector will also be present to give their messages of support to the movement.

Date: 26 July
Time: 11:00 am
Venue: Soul City Institute For Social Justice
Address: 281 Jan Smuts Ave, Dunkeld West, Randburg, 2196
Contact: Lesley Ncube: (072) 544-2920 and Mahayle Khontsiwe: (065) 241-5433