Warm Bodies at the Women’s Jail: A Powerful Stand Against GBV
Warm Bodies at the Women’s Jail will bring South Africans together at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Friday, 25 September 2026, for a public vigil calling for solidarity, reflection and action in response to gender-based violence and the continued loss of women and children.
The gathering will take place at the historic Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill, a site with a powerful history of resistance. Once a place of imprisonment and oppression under apartheid, the Women’s Jail now stands as a symbol of resilience, courage and resistance.
The public vigil comes at a time when communities across South Africa continue to grapple with the devastating impact of gender-based violence, femicide and violence against women and children.
Warm Bodies at the Women’s Jail calls for solidarity
The event will create a space for members of the public, civil society organisations, human rights partners and other stakeholders to come together in mourning while reaffirming their commitment to social justice, Ubuntu and a South Africa where women and children can live free from fear and violence.
The historic significance of the venue adds another layer to the gathering.
Constitution Hill’s records document the imprisonment of prominent anti-apartheid activists at the Women’s Jail, including Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer, Barbara Hogan and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Their histories of resistance provide an important reminder of the courage women have demonstrated in the face of injustice.
Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa said the gathering is an opportunity for society to confront violence against women while drawing strength from those who fought against oppression before.
“The Women’s Jail reminds us that women have endured injustice, oppression and violence before, and they have always found the courage to resist and to rise.”
Ramokgopa said the same courage is needed as South Africa confronts the ongoing reality of gender-based violence.
What to expect at Warm Bodies at the Women’s Jail
The vigil will combine spoken-word performances, guest speakers, messages of support and moments of collective reflection.
Among the speakers will be Dr Beverly Ditsie, a human rights activist, filmmaker and director, as well as representatives from organisations working in the social justice and gender-based violence sectors.
The programme will be hosted by Sophie Ndaba, wellness coach, actress and entrepreneur.
The day will begin with an opening prayer by presenter and radio host Rorisang Thandekiso, followed by poetry from Nomonde Sky.
MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa will deliver the keynote address, followed by a contribution from Dr Beverly Ditsie and Sasha Stevenson, Director of Section 27.
Poet Noxolo Desire will also perform before the programme moves into a silent memorial for reflection and mourning.
Amnesty International South Africa will participate through A Flower for Remembrance, followed by 11 minutes of meditation with Mama Itta.
Remembering lives lost to gender-based violence
The organisers say the vigil comes in response to the recent multiple murders in South Africa that have left families and communities grieving, anxious and searching for meaningful spaces in which to process their loss.
The Women’s Jail provides a particularly powerful setting for that conversation.
A site that once represented oppression and brutality against women has been transformed into a place where the stories of women’s resilience and resistance can be remembered.
The organisers are calling on South Africans to gather not only to mourn, but also to stand together in solidarity and renew the commitment to ending violence.
The event is also intended to create space for healing and collective expression at a time when many communities are carrying the effects of violence.
Join the Warm Bodies vigil at Constitution Hill
The public is invited to attend Warm Bodies at the Women’s Jail on Friday, 25 September.
The event will take place at The Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, from 12:00 to 14:00, with media arrival scheduled for 11:30.
Members of the public can also share messages of support through the organisers’ online campaign: Share a message of support.
The call is ultimately one of solidarity: to remember those who have been lost, support those affected by violence and stand together against gender-based violence.
Warm Bodies at the Women’s Jail
Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
Time: 12:00–14:00
Media arrival: 11:30
Venue: The Women’s Jail, Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
#StandUp4HumanRights #ActInSolidarity #VisitConHill #EndFemicide #StopGBV
