JOHANNESBURG: South Africa said on Friday the rate of violence against women in the country was a national disaster, as thousands protested to highlight the problem ahead of this weekend&#39;s G20 summit of world leaders.&nbsp;The country has one of the world&#39;s highest rates of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), leading to deaths five times higher than the global average, according to the United Nations&rsquo; gender equality organization UN Women.&nbsp;In one of dozens of &quot;lie-in&quot; protests countrywide, thousands of people dressed in black lay on the ground for 15 minutes at an event in Johannesburg&#39;s city Centre, just a few kilometers (miles) from the venue where G20 leaders will meet on Saturday and Sunday.&nbsp;Organizers said the action was to honor the 15 women murdered every day in South Africa.&nbsp;A 2022 government survey found that one in three South African women had experienced physical violence and almost 10 percent had faced sexual violence.&nbsp;More than 10,700 cases of rape were reported to police in the first three months of 2025 but the real numbers are expected to be much higher.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m here standing for not only myself but my younger sisters, my siblings and every woman in South Africa,&quot; said one of the protesters, 23-year-old Lefika Jonathan.&nbsp;the government&#39;s disaster management said that after evaluating the &quot;persistent and immediate life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence&quot;, it had concluded that GBVF met the &quot;threshold of a potential disaster&quot;.&nbsp;This made the issue a priority for the executive branch of government and &quot;all organs of state&quot;, it said.&nbsp;&quot;All we want is justice,&quot; said another protester, 19-year-old student Nomhle Porogo.&nbsp;She hoped the timing of the protest meant &quot;those in higher positions can hear our cries&quot;.&nbsp;But she was unimpressed by the decision to wait until South Africa was in the international spotlight to classify the problem a disaster a longstanding demand from women&#39;s rights groups.&nbsp;&quot;For them to declare it a national disaster when it suits them and in front of our visitors because they want to make our house look clean for visitors... is an injustice,&quot; she told AFP.

Africa

South Africa, facing one of the world’s highest gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) rates, declared violence against women a national disaster as thousands protested before the G20 summit, demanding justice and criticizing the government for acting only under international scrutiny.

South Africa deems high violence against women a national disaster

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ISLAMABAD: South Africa defeated Pakistan by 55 runs in the first Twenty20 International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, as the hosts&rsquo; batting collapsed while chasing 195.&nbsp;Chasing a target of 195, Pakistan was bowled out for just 139 runs in 18.1 overs. South Africa&#39;s Right-arm fast bowler Corbin Bosch starred with a career-best 4-14, while George Linde claimed 3-31 as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for only 58 runs.&nbsp;Pakistani Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub gave a slow start before wickets tumbled. Babar Azam, returning to T20Is, fell for a golden duck, while skipper Salman Ali Agha managed only two. Only Mohammad Nawaz showed resistance with a quick 36 off 20 balls, but the rest of the lineup offered little support.&nbsp;Earlier, sent into bat first, South Africa posted 194/9, with Reeza Hendricks anchoring the innings with a solid 60, and Linde contributing a quickfire 36. Nawaz shone with the ball, claiming 3-26, while Saim Ayub chipped in with 2-31 to help peg back the visitors after a fiery start from Quinton de Kock and debutant Tony de Zorzi.&nbsp;Despite late wickets by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, Pakistan&rsquo;s bowlers leaked runs at crucial stages.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Green Shirts swapped their traditional green jerseys for pink ones as the Pakistan team joined the global effort to raise awareness about breast cancer.&nbsp;The defeat leaves Pakistan facing renewed concerns over batting intent and middle-order consistency, ahead of the second T20I in Lahore on Friday.

Cricket

Pakistan collapses chasing 195. Bosch (4-14) and Linde (3-31) lead attack; defeat leaves Pakistan facing renewed concerns over batting intent and middle-order consistency, ahead of the second T20I in Lahore on Friday.

South Africa defeat Pakistan by 55 runs in Rawalpindi T20 opener

RAWALPINDI: South Africa beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday to draw the series 1-1 with Simon Harmer taking a maiden five-wicket haul.&nbsp;The 36-year-old off-spinner finished with 6-50, taking his 1,000th first-class wicket in the process, on a deteriorating Rawalpindi stadium pitch.&nbsp;South Africa eased to the 68-run target for the loss of captain Aiden Markram (42) and Tristan Stubbs (nought), both to spinner Noman Ali, who finished with 2-40.&nbsp;Ryan Rickelton, who scored 25 not out, hit Sajid Khan for a six to seal an emphatic win minutes before the lunch break for the World Test Championship holders.&nbsp;Markram was delighted by his side&#39;s display after losing the first Test by 93 runs.&nbsp;&quot;It was a great response after Lahore,&quot; said Markram, standing in for regular skipper Temba Bavuma, who missed the tour with a calf injury.&nbsp;Like Lahore, where spinners took 34 of the 40 wickets to fall, it was a battle of the slow bowlers.&nbsp;Pakistan made 333 in their first innings before the South African tail wagged to help them pile up 404 for a crucial 71-run lead.&nbsp;Thursday&#39;s morning session saw Pakistan&#39;s batters fold, adding just 44 runs after resuming the fourth day on 94-4.&nbsp;Harmer torpedoed Pakistan&#39;s hopes of saving the Test when he trapped Babar Azam leg-before with the fifth ball of the day after the batsman had reached his 30th Test half-century.&nbsp;Markram said the performance of the South African spinners, especially Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, gave them a big boost with two Tests in India next month.&nbsp;&quot;In South Africa you&#39;d think just seamers and some spinners, but we are a work in progress heading to India,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Pakistan captain Shan Masood said some of his side&#39;s batting was &quot;not up to the mark&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;You have to give credit to South Africa,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;They have kept fighting and our lower-order batting, finishing innings off, third-innings collapses are not up to the mark.&quot;

South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in Rawalpindi to level the Test series 1-1, with Simon Harmer taking 6-50 and his 1,000th first-class wicket as Pakistan’s batting collapsed despite Babar Azam’s fifty.


Harmer stars as South Africa beat Pakistan to draw series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan head into the tea break at 177 for 3 on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi, having weathered a slightly challenging second session after a solid start in the morning.&nbsp;Captain Shan Masood continues to hold the innings together, unbeaten on 77 off 144 balls, with Saud Shakeel (6*) alongside him at the crease. The pair will resume after tea, with Pakistan looking to build on the platform laid earlier in the day.&nbsp;South Africa fought back in the second session, picking up two important wickets. Abdullah Shafique, who had shared a 111-run stand with Masood, was dismissed for a well-compiled 57 from 146 deliveries, edging to the keeper off Simon Harmer.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1980210328723181658&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f8a7a90fa9429be4d140d105fb3ce4c2b28c3504&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VGOTEL Mobile Presents Bank Alfalah Pakistan vs South Africa Test Series 2025🏏 Second Test ☕ Tea Break, Day 1! Pakistan 177-3 after 62 overs, skipper Shan Masood is still out there on 77 runs 🏏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#PAKvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenPeYaqeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#GreenPeYaqeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/kJb5kxXiIw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/kJb5kxXiIw</a>&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1980210328723181658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 20, 2025</a></blockquote></div>Then, just before the interval, Babar Azam fell for 16, brilliantly caught at short cover by Tony de Zorzi off Keshav Maharaj &mdash; a moment that lifted the visitors after a sluggish fielding display.&nbsp;Earlier, Pakistan had started the day confidently after winning the toss and electing to bat on a dry surface. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Shafique added 35 for the first wicket before Imam was bowled by Harmer for 17, beaten by a sharply turning delivery.&nbsp;The introduction of Masood saw Pakistan consolidate, with both batters playing cautiously and accelerating towards the lunch break.&nbsp;By tea, the hosts had faced 62 overs at a run rate of 2.85. South Africa&rsquo;s spinners found more assistance in the second session, with Maharaj and Harmer applying pressure, but Pakistan&rsquo;s top order, led by a composed and measured knock from Masood, ensured the innings remained well-poised.&nbsp;With Rizwan and Agha Salman still to come, and the ball beginning to show signs of turn, the final session promises a key passage in this contest, one where South Africa will aim to capitalise, and Pakistan will look to press on.

Pakistan are 177-3 at Tea on Day 1; Masood not out on 77, Saud Shakeel on 6.

Second Test: Masood holds fort after Pakistan lose two quick wickets

ISLAMABAD: South Africa continued their winning streak in the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025, thrashing Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in a rain-hit match at R. Premadasa International on Friday.&nbsp;Due to rain, the match was reduced to 20 overs, with South Africa restricting Sri Lanka to 105-7 before comfortably chasing a revised target of 121 in 14.5 overs to consolidate their hold on second place in the points table.&nbsp;Sri Lanka, who chose to bat first, were 46-2 when rain stopped play. After the break, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlba took 3-30 as the bowlers allowed only 59 runs in the last eight overs while taking five wickets.&nbsp;Vishmi Gunaratne&rsquo;s quick 34, which included six fours, was the only notable contribution for Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Chasing six an over, South Africa&rsquo;s openers made the task look easy. Captain Laura Wolvaardt struck an unbeaten 60 off 47 balls, while Tazmin Brits hit 55 not out off 42 balls with four fours and two sixes. Their 125-run stand came off just 89 deliveries to complete a commanding victory.&nbsp;For a team bowled out for just 69 by England in their opening game, South Africa&rsquo;s recovery has been impressive with four wins in a row.&nbsp;Sri Lanka remain winless after five matches in a campaign affected by rain and inconsistency.&nbsp;The victory took South Africa to eight points, one behind defending champions Australia on nine. England, the four-time winners, are third with seven points and a game in hand.

Wins by 10 wickets in a rain-shortened Women’s World Cup match in Colombo, restricting them to 105-7 before chasing a revised 121-run target in 14.5 overs.


Articles tagged with "SOUTH AFRICA"

South Africa deems high violence against women a national disaster

South Africa defeat Pakistan by 55 runs in Rawalpindi T20 opener

Harmer stars as South Africa beat Pakistan to draw series

Second Test: Masood holds fort after Pakistan lose two quick wickets

South Africa crush Sri Lanka to extend dominant World Cup run