Students and staff members of Stellenbosch University (SU) recently marched to raise awareness for the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence (GBV). This is according to Aidan Fletcher, the vice chairperson of the theology student committee (TSC) and academic affairs officer.
Reverend Lundi Joko from St Peter’s Anglican Church in Khayelitsha led a prayer at the start of the speakers’ addresses at a recent march against gender-based violence. This was followed by a moment of silence before the speakers addressed the students and staff. PHOTO: Ntokozo Khumalo
‘Important initiative for our campus’
The TSC collaborated with the SRC to organise the march, which was held on 8 August, according to Bradley Grovers, the transformation officer of the SRC.
“I felt that this could be a needed and important initiative for our campus. Women need to be heard, but we invite men to the table as well,” said Grovers.
The attendees marched from the theology faculty to the Rooiplein where they were addressed by SU societies council chairperson Thandile Ngxikwe, and SU equality unit head Jaco Greeff Brink.
Ngxikwe and Brink emphasised the importance of standing together against violence and reporting cases of GBV. They also spoke about the structures that are available to assist with cases of GBV at the university, such as campus health, the SU centre for student counselling and development, and the SU equality unit.
The march was part of the Thursdays in black initiative, started by the TSC, where students dress in all black in solidarity with victims of GBV, according to Dawn Manqoyi, treasury administrative and social media manager of the TSC.
“This year the TSC decided to incorporate our Thursdays in black into something bigger and within the whole university space,” said Manqoyi.
Students and staff members of Stellenbosch University (SU) recently participated in a march against gender-based violence, which commenced at the SU faculty of theology and ended at the Rooiplein, according to Dawn Manqoyi, the treasury administrative and social media manager of the theology student committee. PHOTO: Ntokozo Khumalo
Turning campus into a supportive environment
“It is important to show on campus that we are fighting against gender-based violence and that it cannot be tolerated anywhere. And that people that perpetuate violence are not welcome anywhere,” said Aidan Fitzgerald, a third-year BSc student in Conservation Ecology, who participated in the march.
Thandile Ngxikwe, addressed the attendees of the march and spoke about the “multiplicity of gender” and that GBV highlights violence against all genders.
“The reason why we say that it’s gender-based violence [is] because the issue is not just about one gender against another, it is all genders, all sexualities, all identities [that] are at risk of experiencing violence,” said Ngxikwe.
The TSC aims to continue its efforts to facilitate discourse and to ensure that the campus becomes a supportive environment, according to Fletcher.
The Stellenbosch University student representative council and the theology student committee recently organised a march around campus to stand in solidarity with people who have experienced gender-based violence. VIDEO: Ntokozo Khumalo