A quiet but powerful moment swept across South Africa on Friday afternoon as thousands stood still for 15 minutes, marking the WomenShutdown movement's largest coordinated action to date.
For many in the crowd, the silence was a protest. For organisers, it symbolised something more, the feeling that the country may finally be standing at the edge of a turning point.
Speaking shortly after the demonstrations, Merlize Jogiat of Women for Change said the day felt surreal , adding that watching people across the country gather quietly left her emotional, according to SmileFM .