South Africa heading for national shutdown

South Africa is heading for a national shutdown, with over 850,000 people signing a petition to declare their support for a halt to normal activity on 21 November. 

This shutdown is set to take place just before the heads of state summit as part of the G20 on 22 and 23 November in Johannesburg. 

As a result, it will coincide with significantly greater police presence in Johannesburg and several major route closures around the city. 

The shutdown aims to leverage the G20 to draw attention to South Africa’s Gender Based Violence and Femicide crises. 

Led by Women for Change, the movement demands that these crises be declared a national disaster and that urgent action be taken by the government to address them. 

The shutdown is a deliberate attempt to undo the government’s efforts to portray South Africa as a stable, growing economy during the G20 event. 

The City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Provincial Government put in tremendous effort to ‘clean up’ the city ahead of hosting the G20 summit in November. 

This has angered residents, who largely view the efforts as putting lipstick on a pig, with Johannesburg suffering from a decade of mismanagement. 

“As much as we are putting this front out to the rest of the world, there’s so much happening on the ground in South Africa that continues to be ignored,” said Cameron Kasambala, the Women for Change movement’s spokesperson.

“So while all international eyes are looking at South Africa, we want to show them the reality of what is going on.”

The movement has called on participants in the shutdown to refuse ot engage in work or unpaid labour on 21 November in workplaces, universities, and homes. 

It has also called on individuals to refuse to spend or withdraw money on the day to illustrate the impact of their absence from the economy. 

The Women for Change want violence against women to be declared a national disaster, as they believe this will force the government to be more transparent about the measures that are being taken to combat GBV. 

“Claiming it as a national disaster means acknowledging that it is a crisis, a human rights crisis that is happening. That’s the kind of reaction we want to see coming from them.”

G20 disruptions

The shutdown comes amid various disruptions for the G20 in Johannesburg, with major transport routes being halted by the Johannesburg Metro Police and National Traffic Police. 

The City of Johannesburg is entering the final stages of preparation for the upcoming international summit, which will draw global heads of state, government delegations, and extensive security teams to the city.

Law enforcement agencies are coordinating efforts to strengthen security and regulate traffic around critical routes.

Motorists and residents have noted an intensified pace of maintenance work, from repairing traffic lights and streetlamps to repainting road markings and trimming overgrown vegetation along major thoroughfares.

These efforts have been concentrated across several suburbs, particularly along key arteries connecting to and surrounding the Nasrec precinct.

City officials have emphasised that these upgrades are not merely for appearances ahead of the summit.

They are also designed to ensure that the movement of residents, public transport, logistics operations, and emergency services remains smooth and safe during the event.

Security preparations have become increasingly apparent. Additional police and traffic personnel have been deployed around the Expo Centre and nearby access points, with several zones already restricted for controlled entry.

Vehicles entering the precinct are being inspected, while patrol units maintain both mobile and stationary watch positions.

Authorities have described these steps as standard international security measures, gradually intensifying as the summit date approaches.

They have also addressed public concerns regarding potential demonstrations during the event.

Police have confirmed that any groups wishing to protest will be directed to a designated Speaker’s Corner, allowing gatherings to proceed without disrupting the summit.

Gauteng’s Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Fred Kekana, reaffirmed that South Africa remains committed to protecting constitutional rights, including the right to peaceful protest.

During this period, there will be rolling road closures, lane restrictions, and intermittent diversions across major routes in the City of Johannesburg.

The closures will not be continuous but will move in stages, meaning traffic may open and close multiple times along the same road as convoys and security escorts pass through.

The national highways expected to be affected include the N1, M1, and N12. Several important city and regional roads will also be part of the controlled traffic network, including:

• Jan Smuts Avenue,
• Rivonia Road,
• Oxford Road,
• Grayston Drive,
• Kathrine Street,
• Athol Oaklands Road,
• Glenhove Road,
• Winnie Mandela Drive,
• Hendrick Potgieter Road,
• Nasrec Road,
• Rand Show Road,
• The Golden Highway near Nasrec, and areas around Melrose, Sandton, Rosebank, and the inner city.

Authorities said traffic officers will be on duty along the affected corridors to assist with direction, while signage and real-time travel updates will be provided.