Bold steps to combat GBV at university
UKZN announced this during a GBV Awareness Panel Discussion held at the UKZN Howard College campus recently.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has announced the rollout of the Social Justice Educational Module which will be compulsory for all students.
The institution said it is aimed at fighting against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
UKZN announced this during a GBV Awareness panel discussion held at the UKZN Howard College campus recently.
Executive Director for Corporate Relations at UKZN, Normah Zondo said the SGBV response official will be a central figure in shaping and implementing the university’s comprehensive approach with a particular focus on enforcing accountability measures, enhancing preventive systems, and bolstering existing support and response mechanisms.
“This appointment is critical in instituting a zero-tolerance policy on SGBV across all campuses of the university. The coordinator will also oversee the revision of existing SGBV-related policies and manage systems for the monitoring, evaluating, and tracking of reported cases,” said Zondo.
She added that the newly established SGBV Investigations Unit will prioritise maintaining the confidentiality of cases and ensuring the prevention of secondary victimisation.
Zondo said the aim of the soon-to-be-launched Social Justice Educational Module is to broaden students’ perspectives on not just SGBV but also on a variety of social issues like racism, gender inequality and classism.
“We believe this module, which will be compulsory for all first-year students will help foster active participation in societal change,” said Zondo
At the panel discussion, the university’s Risk Management Services’ Zinhle Dlamini spoke on the operations of the unit and the support systems available to students.
“We have trained officers who are available at all hours of the day and night to deal specifically with GBV cases. These officers will accompany a complainant to a police station, assist with talking to family members, and with relocation from residences if required,” said Dlamini.
Chairperson of the UKZN Gender-Based Violence Committee, Dr Janine Hicks spoke on the committee’s efforts to respond to GBV against students in higher education.
Hicks said the university has been working hard to ensure that students are heard and that GBV policies are in line with government’s response.
Also, SAPS representative, Sergeant Neliswa Khumalo touched on reporting protocol and investigation of GBV cases.
She urged students to avoid common scenarios that often lead up to incidences of GBV, such as the different ways in which perpetrators can lure their victims into unsafe environments.
The institution said its activism and awareness campaigns will be ongoing with students at the forefront.
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