UKZN Hosts Awareness Campaign on Gender-Based Violence

UKZN Hosts Awareness Campaign on Gender-Based Violence

A startling 10% of all reported rape cases involve young women in Higher Education. Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande cited this alarming statistic at the Changing MENtalities Summit held recently.

In order to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV), UKZN hosted an event at UKZN’s Howard College campus on Thursday, 31 August, where Executive Director of Corporate Relations, Ms Normah Zondo, outlined the interventions instituted by the University to combat this societal challenge. These include the adoption of a comprehensive GBV policy, the establishment of a new GBV hub to be located within the office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, the process of appointing the Strategic Co-ordinator for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and the creation of a specialised GBV Investigations Unit.

Plans are also afoot to launch an innovative social justice educational module, which will be rolled out to all Colleges after being piloted in the College of Humanities. ‘Through this module, we aim to broaden students’ perspectives on not just GBV, but also on various social issues like racism, gender inequality, and classism,’ said Zondo.

‘Developed by a multidisciplinary team of academics, this module aims to empower students to critically examine social issues and their roles within these contexts. We believe this module, which will be compulsory for all first-year students, will help foster active participation in societal change,’ she said.

Chairperson of the University’s Gender-Based Violence committee, Dr Janine Hicks, welcomed the initiatives outlined by Zondo. ‘We finally have an institutional response to GBV,’ she said.

Hicks encouraged students to ‘stand up, speak up and reach out, and hold us accountable. This is our community, our university, and we must make it work and a safe space for us.’

The awareness campaign included brief presentations by a number of stakeholders as well as a frank discussion on GBV.

Advocate Mzo Rusi from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spoke about the importance of preventing secondary victimisation and outlined the definition of consent. ‘Consent should be free and voluntary – not under the influence of alcohol or any other substances.’

The Department of Justice’s Ms Asiya Khan outlined recent amendments to legislation related to GBV, defined a “vulnerable person” and explained the convicted sexual offenders’ register.

Khan said the Department was working on taking the application for a protection order online, where applications can be done electronically. ‘We are taking strides to become more victim-centric and offer more protection for victims of GBV.’

PhD student, Ms Banele Zulu, outlined her research and findings into GBV. Zulu looked at how we can conceptualise rape and GBV. She said that GBV is deeply rooted in patriarchy. ‘The perpetrators of these acts of violence – sexual and GBV – are products of the society in which they were born, raised, and continue to live. GBV is the result of the patriarchal society in which these people live.’

Pro Vice-Chancellor of Social Cohesion, Professor Relebohile Moletsane, looked at government interventions to address GBV sector-wide in universities, including the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and technical and ministerial task teams convened by DHET Minister Blade Nzimande.

Looking at the interventions in place at UKZN, Moletsane said, ‘We are hoping for a coherent system of response under the leadership of the new person in the Vice-Chancellor’s office (GBV hub).’

Secretary General of the UKZN Student Representation Council, Ms Nosipho Manzini, said introducing the social justice module was a step in the right direction – ‘but Basic Education must take note of what is happening at UKZN.’ She implored the Department of Basic Education to follow suit to ensure learners at school level are also well-informed.

Manzini examined gender inequality and the links between atrocities and poor or downtrodden communities. She emphasised that ‘student wars are community wars’, adding that she is hopeful that suggestions made are ‘adopted by the University so we have a GBV-free institution.’

Men of Virtue’s Chairperson, Mr Sanele Zuma, focused on men as perpetrators of GBV, as well as victims. He advocated for men to be more involved in the fight against GBV.

Investigator at the newly established GBV unit, Mrs Zinhle Dlamini, outlined the services offered and stressed the importance of reporting cases immediately.

Sergeant Neliswa Khumalo from the GBV desk at Berea SAPS, Durban, charted the procedure of reporting cases at police stations. She said GBV desks have been established at police stations as survivors have the right to be treated with ‘empathy, sympathy and respect.’ Responding to comments from the floor, she emphasised that one should request assistance from the GBV desk when reporting cases and that female officers can be requested to take statements. ‘Report every criminal incident that you are exposed to,’ she said.

Gender activist, Ms Cookie Edwards, outlined rapid response teams created to help survivors of GBV in communities. She said the initiative has helped turn pilot areas from hotspots into violence-free zones and offered assistance to the University in setting up similar initiatives.

Manzini thanked everyone for attending and participating in the discussions. She encouraged victims of GBV to speak up because ‘when you keep quiet, you are enabling the perpetrator to go and do it to the next person as well because they’ve seen that they can do it and actually get away with it.’

Entertainment was provided by Malkia Zawadi and Nomfundo Moh.

To view the event, click here.

Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

Photographs: Sethu Dlamini