Residents of Potchefstroom are being called to take a united stand against gender-based violence (GBV) at a community march on 21 November 2025. The gathering will start at 10:00 for 10:30 at the Baipéi taxi rank in Promosa, where women, community members and supporters are invited to walk together, raise awareness, and show visible solidarity with survivors. Participants are also encouraged to bring fruits and water as part of the support effort.

Purpose of the March

The march is a community-driven response to the ongoing crisis of GBV and femicide in South Africa. While GBV is a national issue, local action in towns like Potchefstroom plays a critical role in:

• Raising awareness of the realities faced by women and children.

• Challenging the silence, stigma, and normalisation of abuse.

• Mobilising communities to support survivors and prevention initiatives.

• Creating a visible public message that violence is not tolerated.

By walking through Promosa and surrounding areas, participants aim to demonstrate that ordinary residents refuse to look away and are prepared to step into public spaces to say “enough”.

Event Details

• Date: Friday, 21 November 2025

• Time: 10:00 for 10:30 (participants to assemble from 10:00)

• Starting Point: Baipéi taxi rank, Promosa, Potchefstroom

• Focus: A women-led community march against gender-based violence

• Donations: Fruits and bottled water requested from attendees

• Contacts for information and coordination:

  • KC – 081 437 3796

  • Bradwin – 060 411 5751

The event is open to all community members who wish to support the cause, with a particular emphasis on creating a safe and affirming space for women.

The Scale of Gender-Based Violence: Recent Figures

Current data underscores why events like this march remain urgently needed:

• A 2024 study by the Human Sciences Research Council estimated that more than 7.3 million women in South Africa aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime, with nearly 7.8 million having endured physical and/or sexual violence.

• A 2024 report by the TEARS Foundation showed that the North West Province recorded approximately 103 GBV-helpline calls per 100 000 people, one of the highest rates in the country over recent years.

These figures highlight both the national and provincial weight of GBV and help explain the growing number of community-based initiatives and marches such as the one planned in Potchefstroom.

Why Broad Community Participation Is Essential

Although this march is framed as a women-centred event, broad participation from all sectors of the community is vital for lasting change.

• Challenging harmful norms: When people of all genders, ages and backgrounds walk together, it sends a clear public message that abusive behaviour is socially unacceptable.

• Shifting responsibility: GBV is not only an issue for survivors to carry or for women to speak about; it is a community problem that demands community responsibility.

• Positive role-modelling: Visible support in public spaces helps shape how young people understand relationships, respect and consent, and encourages healthier attitudes for future generations.

• Strengthening support networks: Survivors often feel isolated. Seeing neighbours, leaders and ordinary residents stand together can help create an environment where it is easier to seek help, report abuse, and access services.

• Prevention, not just reaction: Community involvement moves the conversation from reacting after violence occurs to actively preventing it through education, vigilance and mutual accountability.

By taking part in the march, residents help create a culture where violence is actively challenged and respect is actively promoted.

How Residents Can Support the Initiative

Those who wish to contribute can do so in several ways:

• Attend the march on 21 November and walk in solidarity.

• Bring fruits and bottled water as requested by organisers, to support participants and potential outreach activities.

• Share information about the march on local WhatsApp groups, social media platforms and within community organisations.

• Wear symbolic colours or badges (such as purple, commonly used in GBV awareness) to strengthen the visual impact of the event.

• Partner with local organisations after the march by volunteering, supporting shelters, or participating in awareness and education campaigns.

Why Men Should Support This March

While the event focuses on creating a safe and empowering space for women, the support of men remains vital in the broader fight against gender-based violence. Men play an influential role in helping shift social norms, challenge harmful behaviours, and reinforce the message that violence has no place in homes, relationships or communities.

Their presence strengthens the visibility of collective accountability and shows younger generations that respect, empathy and protection are shared values rather than gender-specific responsibilities. When men stand alongside women in initiatives like this march, they help create a united front that is essential for long-term prevention and meaningful change.

Final Notes

The upcoming march at Baipéi taxi rank in Promosa is more than a one-day event; it forms part of a wider effort in Potchefstroom and the North West Province to confront gender-based violence openly and collectively. Against the backdrop of millions of women affected nationally and a province with one of the highest GBV-helpline call rates, the march offers residents a concrete opportunity to show support, demand safer communities, and help build a culture where dignity and safety are non-negotiable.

#TheGoToGuy #StopGBV #Potchefstroom #EndGBV #CommunityAgainstViolence #StandWithWomen

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