At UniApplyForMe, we have always believed that access to education means more than getting accepted into an institution. It means building a society where every learner, parent, and educator feels safe, valued, and supported. We exist to make opportunities more accessible, but we also recognise that access means very little when fear and violence are still part of daily life for so many South Africans.
Today, we join a growing national movement calling for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) to be declared a national disaster. In solidarity, we have turned our website header purple and added the words “Says #NoToGBV” under our brand name. The colour purple has become a symbol of unity and courage, representing the voices of survivors, the pain of families affected by violence, and the determination of South Africans who are saying enough is enough.
For too long, the crisis of GBVF has continued in silence, often treated as a private or isolated issue rather than the national emergency it truly is. Behind every statistic is a story of a life cut short, a family left grieving, or a survivor forced to rebuild with little support. As a country, we cannot continue to accept this as normal. The call to turn our spaces purple is not just symbolic. It is a collective demand for systemic change, accountability, and protection for all who face violence and inequality.
At UniApplyForMe, we have always believed in using our platform for good. Every year during Pride Month, we raise a pride sub-banner on our website to celebrate diversity and show our support for the LGBTQ+ community. We have always advocated for those who need help advocating for themselves. Standing with survivors of gender-based violence is a continuation of that same commitment to fairness, visibility, and dignity for all.
We understand that education and safety go hand in hand. A young person cannot focus on their future if they live in fear of harm. A student cannot plan their studies if they must constantly look over their shoulder. We believe that fighting for access to higher education also means fighting for the right to live without fear.
The Women For Change (W4C) organisation has called on South Africans to unite under this movement and participate in the G20 Women’s Shutdown, which highlights the need to address GBVF as a matter of national urgency. The campaign asks for more than awareness; it asks for action. It reminds us that change begins when we refuse to be silent.
We stand firmly with those who have been affected by gender-based violence and those working tirelessly to prevent it. We stand for a future where our communities protect rather than harm, where every person can pursue education, work, and life without fear.
Join us in showing support and taking action. Together, we can help make this message impossible to ignore.
- Sign the petition to declare GBVF a national disaster in South Africa
- Learn more about the G20 Women’s Shutdown campaign
Let this moment remind us that true progress is not just measured by the number of students we help enrol, but by the safety, equality, and justice we help build in the world they will one day lead.
