Durban – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called for united action to end gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, urging citizens to show respect and love towards women.
“We must put a stop to the abuse of women. We must respect them; we must love them and treat them the way the king treats our queen,” Malema said. “Once we do that, there will not be a crisis of gender-based violence.”
Malema made the remarks at King Misuzulu KaZwelithini’s wedding to Nomzamo Myeni at the KwaKhangela royal palace in Nongoma over the weekend.
His comments come as activist groups prepare for a nationwide shutdown later this month to protest rising levels of GBV and femicide.
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The EFF President @Julius_S_Malema giving his speech asat King Misuzulu KaZwelithini’s wedding to Nomzamo Myeni at KwaKhangela royal palace in Nongoma. pic.twitter.com/hfTO3C2M7s
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 9, 2025
Women For Change, one of the leading organisers, has called for all women and members of the LGBTQI+ community to down tools on Friday, 21 November — the day before the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
The group said the action would honour the more than 5,500 women murdered in a single year and demonstrate that “without women, South Africa stops.”
The shutdown encourages women to refrain from all paid and unpaid work in workplaces, universities, homes, and communities, and to avoid spending money throughout the day.
At midday, participants will lie down for 15 minutes to symbolically honour the 15 women killed daily in the country.
On Friday, 21 November 2025, South African women will silence the nation.
We call on all women and members of the LGBTQI+ community across South Africa to refrain from all paid and unpaid work in workplaces, universities, homes, and communities to demonstrate the economic and… pic.twitter.com/9e0F8tXTFE
— Women For Change (@womenforchange5) October 29, 2025
According to Kaya959, Not-In-My-Name International has backed the shutdown and reiterated its call for GBV and femicide to be declared a national disaster.
The organisation stated that “Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is not a private issue. It is a national crisis that continues to claim lives, destroy families, and shatter communities.”
Malema linked his remarks to the growing campaign, saying, “We are not like that. Just stop abusing them, they will not need protection.”
Women For Change reports that more than 5,578 women were murdered in South Africa in the year up to March 2024 — a 33.8% increase in femicide compared with the previous year.
Activists say the shutdown is deliberately timed to coincide with the eve of the G20 summit, where South Africa will host world leaders. “On the day before the G20, South Africa will host world leaders while a woman is murdered every 2.5 hours in this country,” organisers said.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
