Dialogues get heated at Unizulu
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana launched a Sexual and Gender Based Violence Dialogue in Unizulu on Friday
LACK of security measures, which includes ’worn out gates’ that contribute to criminal activities at the University of Zululand were among concerns raised by students during the visit by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana on Friday.
What was supposed to be a national launch for Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Dialogues turned into heated verbal attacks directed towards the institution’s Vice-chancellor Prof Xoliswa Motose.
Concerned students vociferously voiced their safety fears at the KwaDlangezwa and Richards Bay campuses.
‘Female students in Richards Bay are sometimes locked out from their residences, which is a huge hazard,’ said a female student during dialogues.
Some student leaders said broken gates’ in KwaDlangezwa contribute directly to crime.
‘There are entrance holes all over our fence which means anyone can come in without being noticed, and it’s even worse since our security guards don’t even carry firearms.’
Discussions got so heated, the deputy minister had to take the podium to calm students who were hurling blame at the institution’s head.
‘This is not the platform for attacks towards the vice-chancellor. We are here to talk about matters affecting students with respect to sexual and gender-based violence,’ said Manana.
Create dialogue
Manana’s visit to the institution was to officially launch SGBV dialogues to students of higher education and training, nationally.
‘In 2016, the higher education and training sector faced the challenge of incidents such as rape, sex-for-marks and other forms of sexual harassment.
‘A diverse group of experts has been brought together into a technical task team to gather and use research and evidence-based best practice to inform a sector-wide strategy to tackle SGBV.
‘The aim is to make universities and colleges – and communities – safer and healthier spaces, and environments where acts of sexual and gender-based violence will not be condoned,’
During the launch health practitioners rolled out health services such as HIV, TB and diabetics tests.
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