“Purple This Friday”: Siya Kolisi Calls on South Africans to Stand Against GBVF
- Siya Kolisi encouraged South Africans to wear purple this Friday to show solidarity against gender-based violence
- The campaign has gone viral, with public figures and social media users joining the movement
- South Africa continues to face alarming femicide rates, prompting nationwide calls for urgent action
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi urged South Africans to swap their usual green for purple this Friday, November 21 2025, as a powerful statement against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Source: Getty Images
The 34-year-old recently bagged his 100th Test Cap for the South African Rugby National team, achieving this milestone in the Springboks' win over France at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
Kolisi was widely celebrated by his teammates and coaches, with Rassie Erasmus also explaining why he substituted him in the game, despite making history.
Despite recently announcing his divorce from Rachel Kolisi, Siya is still the co-founder of the Kolisi Foundation, which they created together.
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Siya Kolisi fights against GBVF
In a trending video shared on X by @QuilterNations on Saturday, 15 November, Kolisi called on fans to use the day to show solidarity with victims of GBVF.
“Next week, on Friday, everybody normally wears green, but now I think we can change to purple. Purple next week, Friday to stand with our women,” Kolisi said, highlighting the importance of national unity in addressing the crisis.
The initiative aligns with the Women for Change campaign, which aims to have GBVF declared a national disaster. Purple has become the symbol of this movement, encouraging South Africans to visibly express their support for women and children affected by violence.
Last week, Kolisi changed his Instagram profile picture to a purple icon. and also posted an image with a plain purple background as a move to show his support for the fight against GBVF.
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Social media and public figures join
The campaign has gained significant traction on social media, with supporters encouraged to change their profile pictures to purple in solidarity. Many public figures, including Bonang Matheba, Zozibini Tunzi-Bolowana, Mia le Roux, Grace Mondlana, Natasha Vermaak, Tyla, and Kolisi himself, have joined the initiative online.
The purple movement has also attracted international attention, with supporters from countries like the US, UK, Botswana, and Ethiopia showing their support.
This visibility comes at a critical time, as statistics indicate South Africa’s femicide rate is six times higher than the global average, with a 33.8% increase reported in just one year. Despite this alarming trend, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) recently declined the petition to officially classify GBVF as a national disaster.
The Women for Change petition has now surpassed one million signatures, reinforcing the call for urgent action. Kolisi’s appeal serves as a reminder that collective awareness and advocacy can help shine a light on the ongoing crisis affecting women and children across the country.
Kolisi appreciates his biggest supporter
Briefly News also reported that Kolisi took time to appreciate his biggest supporter after hitting a new milestone with the Springboks.
The Boks captain led his team to victory against France in Paris last weekend.
Source: Briefly News
