‘We Are Also the Problem’: Siya Kolisi Takes a Bold Stand Against GBV
In a country still grappling with the devastating rates of gender-based violence, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is once again using his influence to spark change. The rugby star has joined thousands of South Africans in turning his social media profile picture purple, a symbolic act championed by activists from the NGO Women For Change.
The initiative, which has gone viral across social media, is tied to a nationwide protest, the G20 Women’s Shutdown set for Friday, 21 November, calling attention to the urgent need to address gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa.
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Personal Stories Fuel Public Action
Kolisi, 35, co-founded the Kolisi Foundation, which advocates for social justice and supports vulnerable communities. Speaking publicly about his late mother, Phakama, who was a survivor of abuse, he made it clear that silence is complicity.
“If you don’t say anything, you condone it. If somebody’s doing something to somebody else, I need to say something or else I’m supporting it,” Kolisi said.
On radio station 702, he went further, addressing men directly: “As men, we have to have these uncomfortable conversations and listen to women. Because we can’t be part of the solution when at the same time we are also part of the problem.”
Kolisi’s voice is a critical one in South Africa, where a woman is killed every 2.5 hours. By openly discussing his family’s experience and encouraging men to take responsibility, he is shifting the conversation from mere awareness to accountability.
Women For Change Calls for a National Disaster Declaration
Women For Change has harnessed this momentum, rallying nearly one million South Africans to sign a petition urging the government to declare GBV a national disaster. The G20 Women’s Shutdown asks women and LGBTQ+ individuals to step away from all work, both paid and unpaid, for a day, highlighting the social and economic impact of their absence.
“Until South Africa stops burying a woman every 2.5 hours, the G20 cannot speak of growth and progress,” the NGO stated. “We demand that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide be declared a National Disaster. Not tomorrow. Not at another summit. Now!”
The planned shutdown coincides with the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, sending a clear message: the issue cannot wait for global discussions – it requires immediate, local action.
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Public Reaction and the Power of Social Media
The purple profile picture campaign has turned social media into a platform for solidarity and outrage. Thousands of South Africans, from celebrities to ordinary citizens, are joining the movement, sparking conversations that go beyond hashtags. The campaign is also creating spaces for survivors to share their stories, amplifying voices that are often silenced.
Kolisi’s involvement lends weight to the campaign, reminding the nation that tackling GBV requires men and women to work together, confronting uncomfortable truths while pushing for systemic change.
A Call to Action
The fight against gender-based violence in South Africa is far from over. With leaders like Siya Kolisi speaking out, and initiatives like Women For Change mobilizing communities, awareness is turning into action. The purple profile picture may be symbolic, but the movement behind it is tangible and urgent.
As Kolisi himself notes, change starts with accountability: “We are also the problem. And until we face that, we can’t be part of the solution.”
Source: The South African
Featured Image: News24
