The national shutdown organized by Women for Change was something I never thought I would observe from inside a FlySAFair plane. As I sat waiting for the clock to strike noon, I looked out the window and saw several flights lined up, each one representing countless journeys and stories. This moment of stillness in the airspace mirrored the powerful pause happening on the ground, where thousands had mobilized to raise their voices against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). This moment allowed me to reflect on what it meant to attend the G20 Summit, considering the broader implications and responsibilities that come with such an experience.
Attending the G20 Summit on African soil was a profound experience for me, not just as an academic but as a witness to a critical moment for South Africa. A nation with a complex history of overcoming systemic oppression was showcasing its leadership in addressing global challenges like Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and inequality. To me being part of the G20 Summit was not just a meeting of the world’s most powerful economies or integration of critical insights to ensure that economic growth is inclusive, sustainable, and just; it was a convergence of diverse voices and interests through engagement groups like Women 20 (W20), Youth 20 (Y20), Disability 20 (D20), Civil Society 20 (CSO20), Children 20 (C20) and the newly introduced LGBTQ 20, which align with my research niche area. The gathering, which President Ramaphosa described as “the People’s G20,” through collaborative contributions of government, civil society, academia, and the private sector, underscored the inclusive nature of the summit and its potential impact on marginalized communities, particularly those exposed to GBVF. It emphasizes a collective effort to address these issues, guided by the summit’s three core themes: sustainability, social justice, and economic inclusivity.
Though witnessing the President’s declaration of GBVF as a national crisis was welcomed with affirmation by the delegates, this did not, however, erase what we still struggle with as a country. The shocking statistic of one woman killed every 2.5 hours echoed loudly in my mind, so did my thoughts ponder on the policies that remain unchanged and how, though a national crisis had just been declared, the lack of transformative action was still evident. As I sat amongst the delegates representing UFH, my thoughts turned to the women and girl child who live in fear daily, to students avoiding campus spaces after dark, and to gender-diverse students navigating unfriendly environments. I thought of survivors of sexual violence struggling for support, validation, and justice. I also recalled a particularly poignant moment when the child president, Amogelang Mashele, presented the Children20 Declaration to President Ramaphosa, which underscored the importance of implementing child-centered policies. This presentation, coinciding with the International Day of the Child, was a powerful reminder of the diverse voices and futures at stake if transformative action is not taken.
The declaration of gender-based violence as a national crisis, alongside the Women for Change shutdown that mobilized thousands, will always be a surreal reminder that witnessing a crisis is not the same as having the capacity to address it. Despite having the right words, we are yet to translate the very same words into effective practices, policies, and protection for marginalized communities. Naming a crisis is not the same as transforming it. As I sat still on the FlySAFair plane during the national shutdown, I was flooded with questions that I do not have answers to:
- How do we in the academic space avoid being instrumentalized and expected to solve through research what policies have failed to address?
- How do we balance rigorous scholarships with the urgent needs of students, staff, and communities facing daily violence?
- In what ways can we remain optimistic about the research contributions we make, while acknowledging the boundaries it faces in transforming systemic violence?
- How do we shift as institutions in documenting the severity of GBVF crises, only to see implementation stall?
I felt a profound contradiction as these questions clouded my mind, while it dawned on me that accountability cannot be avoided or outsourced. I recalled how GBVF was declared a crisis in 2018-2019, and yet, here we are again in 2025, repeating another declaration without action. The gap between past and current declarations highlights seven years of insufficient action, promises unkept, and ongoing violence. Each government declaration invites marginalized communities to hope that, just maybe, this time will be different, that resources will flow, and that accountability will follow. Yet with each unmet promise, the gap between declaration and implementation becomes more painful. Women continue to be killed, queer students excluded, survivors unsupported, and perpetrators unaccountable. Repeated crisis declarations without implementation have created what is now being termed “crisis fatigue”, because these declarations have become increasingly performative rather than transformative. This is not the time to legitimize performative crisis management. We cannot remain neutral while violence and marginalization persist. Institutions of Higher learning must also be sites of critical accountability, demanding real change beyond intellectual legitimization of inadequate responses. Surely, more than one disaster classification is meaningless without sustained funding for prevention, support, and accountability.
Without doubt, the role of civil society organizations in these processes cannot be understated, and this was evident at the G20. Civil society organizations play a crucial role in holding leaders accountable, amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals, and driving grassroots initiatives that bring about real change. Their involvement ensures that policies are not just top-down but are informed by and responsive to the communities they affect. It is our duty as Institutions of higher learning to work hand in hand and take a leaf from civil society’s book if the goal is to effectively tackle GBVF and create more inclusive and safer spaces for all, and of course, research that translates into meaningful action.
As the 15-minute shutdown ended and the plane prepared for takeoff, l realized not only had l just contributed to a legacy of change, the G20 Summit coincides meaningfully with the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, this overlap offers a unique opportunity declaration made during the G20 summit must translate into concrete actions while pushing for sustained, coordinated efforts that extend beyond these 16 days.
Attending the G20 Summit on African soil is more than a diplomatic event; it’s an opportunity to drive sustainability, social justice, and equality. My commitment to enhancing the visibility and impact of scholarship on sexuality and gender has been redefined and reimagined. As an academic, I am proud to be part of this moment, contributing to the dialogue and advocating for marginalized communities.
As I touch down at East London Airport, I am filled with a renewed commitment to drive change, informed by the insights and experiences gained at the summit. A quick reflection on my experiences at the G20 Summit and the ongoing challenges we face amidst the scourge of GBVF, I am reminded of the University of Fort Hare’s motto, “In lumine tuo videbimus lumen,” meaning “In your light we shall see the light.” This guiding principle resonates deeply with the role of academia and research in illuminating paths toward justice and equality. As we strive to address gender-based violence and other systemic issues, let us continue to seek and share knowledge that lights the way and ensures that our collective efforts, kwaNokholeji, and the communities we work with are not performative but transformative!
Together in Excellence we can!
Amandla!
By: Dr Bellita Banda-Chitsamatanga
DSI-NRF Interim SARChl in Sexualities, Genders and Queer Studies