‘Imagine living in a country where it is easier to get raped than find a job’.
These were the words written on a placard and displayed by a Rand Park High School learner, who with several others from her school, stood in silent protest against gender-based violence.
The protest, which took place on the corner of Ysterhout and President Fouche drives, came in the wake of the senseless rape and murder of University of Cape Town student, Uyinene Mrwetyana, who at only 19 years old was killed by a 42-year-old post office worker.
Grade 11 learner and protest organiser, Chailyn Forrester, said on 6 September her and her peers wore all black to show their support in the fight against violence directed at women in this country. According to the Crime Against Women in South Africa Report, the murder of women in this country is five times higher than the global average.
She hoped their protest showed people in the community they are not to be silenced and that all voices and opinions should be heard.
Chailyn fears for the lives of her two older sisters who like Uyinene, are at university. She also fears for the life of her single mother. “I fear for them on a daily basis, because I fear that situations like Uyinene will happen again and it’s not fair and it is also not fair that women have to walk around in fear when men can do so without fear.”
The school’s Heather Robinson stated that learners were encouraged to wear a black ribbon or sash on their blazers in support of the call to raise awareness for the need to stop gender-based violence. The learners were also informed of this initiative during Thursday’s grade assemblies in response to the SA Women Fight Back movement which posted a call for all students to wear a black ribbon today. The school reiterated its support for the anti-gender-based violence campaign and the whole school observed a minute’s silence earlier this morning.
Editor’s note: This article has been amended to allow the school further response.
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