Gender-based violence declared a national emergency in South Africa

South African women participated in a nationwide shutdown to protest against gender-based violence. The event aimed to highlight the issue and its potential impact, with online expression playing a significant role in amplifying the message.

South Africa’s Women’s Shutdown

Women across South Africa halted work to demonstrate against gender-based violence. The shutdown’s online presence amplified the message and connected it to broader global trends in digital activism, particularly those utilizing color-based strategies.

Online Visibility and Risks for Women

The discussion also addressed the situation in Mali, where the execution of a female TikTok influencer has raised concerns about the dangers women face as their voices and visibility increase online.

Participants

The discussion was presented by Stefanie Dekker and included contributions from Cameron Kasambala of Women for Change and Chioma Agwuegbo, the executive director of TECHHER.

Publication Date

The article was published on November 28, 2025.