South African women call purple protest over gender violence

South African women are mobilizing a national protest to demand that gender-based violence (GBV) be declared a national disaster amid high rates of attacks on women in the country. The "purple protest" campaign, supported by social media movements and celebrities, aims to raise awareness and pressure the government to take stronger action against GBV. Despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's acknowledgment of the crisis, activists argue that more efforts are needed to address the ingrained societal issue. Additionally, some women are taking self-defense measures like gun ownership through groups like Girls on Fire due to concerns about personal safety and justice.