Call for action to stop GBV on campus

As part of dealing with GBV in the country’s institutions the minister will launch the Transforming MENtalities Initiative, a multi-stakeholder partnership within the PSET sector, with particular focus on mobilising men to be part of championing a world free of gender biases, stereotypes, violence and discrimination.

Johannesburg - Following the recent murder of a Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student, Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has called on all institutions of higher learning to work collectively to stem genderbased violence (GBV).

Nzimande said this includes ensuring provision of safe workplaces, learning spaces and residences for all staff and students.

The murder of student Ntokozo Xaba is believed to be a genderbased violence (GBV) crime. Xaba, a third-year student studying for a National Diploma in Integrated Communication, was found with multiple stab wounds at her offcampus residence in Pretoria Gardens, after she was last seen with her ex-boyfriend the night before.

Nzimande has strongly condemned the incident and passed his condolences to the Xaba family, friends and the Tshwane University of Technology. He has also directed Higher Health to join in efforts with the TUT wellness team to provide psycho-social support to the family.

Nzimande said Higher Health must also ensure that all institutions work collaboratively with the established multi-sectoral postschool education and training Gender-Based Violence Technical Task Team.

Nzimande said GBV is a global pandemic.

“The numbers are staggering, with global figures indicating that as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by intimate partners, and 35% of women worldwide experience physical and sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. This issue is not only devastating for survivors of violence and their families, but also entails significant social and economic costs and has dire implications to the PSET sector,” Nzimande said.

He added that as part of dealing with GBV in the country’s institutions he will launch the Transforming MENtalities Initiative, a multistakeholder partnership within the PSET sector, with particular focus on mobilising men to be part of championing a world free of gender biases, stereotypes, violence and discrimination.

Nzimande said he will soon release the Ministerial Task Team report on sexual harassment and GBV in the university sector.

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) said it will reach out to the leadership of TUT following the brutal killing of Xaba.

The commission’s CEO, Phelisa Nkomo said in the past three years they conducted investigations to assess gender transformation and

GBV at public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, to ascertain the safety of women on campuses and residences.

Nkomo said more than 15 vicechancellors appeared before the commission to help the organisation understand gender related problems at their institutions.

“One of the numerous recommendations we made was for the Department of Higher Education and Training to institute policies and procedures to deal with the scourge of gender-based violence at institutions of higher learning. We urge the department to speedily ensure the implementation of our recommendations in this area. We implore the criminal justice system to speedily process all GBV related cases, deny all the perpetrators any bail and ensure a high number of convictions,” Nkomo said.