Musician J’Something is standing in solidarity with Women for Change's call for gender-based violence (GBV) to be declared a national disaster.
Image: Instagram
Purple profile pictures are trending all over South Africans' social media platforms as people stand in solidarity with women's rights advocacy group Women For Change's call for gender-based violence (GBV) to be declared a national disaster.
Not only are ordinary citizens changing their profile pictures to purple, but also so are some of the country's famous faces, such as DJ Zinhle, Bonang Matheba and Nomzamo Mbatha.
Changing your profile picture to purple is a personal choice and no one is forced to do it but seeing celebrities showing solidarity with the cause adds a layer of impact that encourages others to join in.
Award-winning musician Tyla, Lerato Kganyago, Yaya Mavundla, Relebogile Mabotja, Refilwe Madumo and Sihle Nbada, LootLove, Jojo Robinson are among the celebrities who have changed their profile pictures.
Musician J'Something explained that after seeing that his wife had changed her profile picture and she explained why he added his voice. The MiCasa frontman’s wife, Cordelia "Coco" da Fonseca, explained to him that the purple profile pictures were raising awareness around the life of a woman in South Africa.
“Women safety in our country is something that we can't keep ignoring and it's something that needs to be addressed by you and I but more importantly by the leaders of this country. Leadership needs to step in.”
J’Something went on to share how the purple profile pictures were a way to open up a dialogue around the severity of gender based violence in the country.
“It's not about the purple profile pictures, it's about you seeing that and actually figuring it out like I have and in South Africa every single day women are being attacked, abused and killed.
“Every single day, not Tuesdays, every single day, 9,000 rapes, were reported in the last three months. Almost one in three women has experienced physical violence in her lifetime.”
On Friday, November 21, South African women and members of the LGBTQI+ community are being urged to stage a nationwide shutdown in protest against GBV and femicide.
Women For Change says the demonstration aims to highlight the social and economic impact of women's absence. This is just a day before the G20 Leaders' Summit.
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