On Friday, 21 November, South African women silenced the nation in a powerful stand against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Across the country, purple settled over campuses and streets alike—a quiet but unyielding promise that every story of fear, survival, and hope would be carried, not forgotten.

At the North-West University (NWU) Vanderbijlpark campus, students joined this nationwide movement, walking together in solidarity to honour victims of GBVF and to demand urgent action. Their presence reflected a commitment to courage, healing, and amplifying the voices of those still searching for safety.

Ms Nokuthula Malinga, the head nurse and the GBVF coordinator on the Vanderbijlpark Campus expressed her gratitude to those who continue to stand with women against GBVF, noting that their support is visible and deeply appreciated. However, she urged students not to offer support only in public spaces, stressing that silence makes one an accomplice.

Ms Malinga encouraged any learners who are experiencing GBVF, as well as those who have witnessed it, to come forward and report it. She made it clear that there will be no leniency toward perpetrators of GBVF: “Accountability will be enforced firmly and without compromise,” she emphasised.

As the GBVF Coordinator for NWU and a victim of GBVF, she plays a central role in offering support, guidance, and intervention.

Ms Malinga highlighted the importance of addressing GBVF early, before it escalates into rape or results in the tragic loss of life. She also reminded learners that GBVF affects everyone, “It is not a women-only issue, as men can also be victims”.

She thanked the campus community for their willingness to engage in this critical work and expressed her hope for a campus environment where GBVF has no place.

The nationwide protest, led by advocacy group Women for Change, encouraged South Africans to take a stand in multiple meaningful ways:

· Not working—no paid or unpaid labour.

· Withdrawing from the economy for one day by refraining from spending money.

· Joining the 15-Minute Standstill at 12 pm by lying down to symbolically honour the 15 women murdered every day in South Africa.

· Wearing black to stand in mourning and resistance.

· Changing profile pictures to purple to make the shutdown visible online.

The campaign began as a viral social media movement and culminated in a nationwide shutdown on the eve of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where global leaders gathered. Celebrities, public figures, and international allies joined the movement by changing their profile pictures to purple, a colour long associated with the fight against GBVF.

South Africa continues to face a harrowing crisis: the femicide rate is five times the global average, according to UN Women. Official crime statistics revealed that between January and March 2025 alone, 137 women were murdered and over 1,000 raped. The protest aimed to urge that gender-based violence be declared a national disaster, emphasising the urgent need for societal and governmental action.

By taking part, NWU Vanderbijlpark students, and thousands across the country sent a clear message: survivors were seen, heard, and supported. They are not alone. The purple wave that swept across South Africa that Friday was more than a colour, it was a collective stand for justice, safety, and change.

If you need support or want to see what the NWU is doing to create safer spaces, visit NWU GBVF Support Centre: https://brnw.ch/21wXFir