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The first campaign event, which was held at MUT’s
Anniversary Lane on the main campus between 12h00
and 13h00, focused on filling the knowledge gap on
GBV, reporting cases to the police, and identifying
what kind of evidence would be required from the
person reporting. The event, which was themed “You
are not forgotten”, saw Anniversary Lane transformed
into a memorial lane with pictures of victims of GBV on
either side of the walkway.
The second session, themed “In her shoes”, required
participants to wear women’s shoes or bring a pair.
This session, held on Thursday, 20 February, took
place at the Natural Sciences Campus on account
of bad weather conditions making it impossible to
use Anniversary Lane. Facilitated by MUT Events
Coordinator, Jade Mthiyane, the session created a
platform for staff and students to discuss how GBV
impacts their lives, while others opened up about
their experience of surviving GBV. To get the audience
talking, Mthiyane carefully detailed various incidences
and invited a panel of speakers to comment on cases
as a starting point for discussions. Students and staff
were quick to seize the opportunity and talk about the
issues they face.
“We wanted to create a space where staff and
students felt comfortable to talk about these issues
without fear of being judged. We are also cognizant of
the fact that many of our students come from homes
where discussions about abuse, and sexual abuse in
particular, are not encouraged,” said Mthiyane. “It
was fulfilling to see how participants embraced the
opportunity we have created and were participating
fully. The fact that we had a diversity of panellists who
have extensive experience in various sections of GBV
made the discussions richer.”
The third session was devoted to tackling GBV from
the perspective of members of the LGBTQI (Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning,
and Intersex) community. For this session, members
of the LGBQTI shared their struggles with an audience
that filled up the Anniversary Lane on Thursday, 27
February.
Leticia Sishi, Miss Gay Durban, and a Durban
University of Technology Public Relations student,
emphasised the importance of having the correct
knowledge about the LGBTQI community. Sishi also
highlighted some of the aggressive actions directed
at LGBTQI people: “You get killed for who and what
you are. GBV has been with us for a long time. But it’s
getting worse.” Sishi, a transgender woman, once had
a gun pointed at her because of her sexuality. Sishi
explained that members of the LGBTQI community do
not owe anyone an explanation. “All you need from
other people is respect,” she said.
After all this internal campaigning, it was now time
to take the “Black Thursday against GBV” campaign
outside MUT to the streets of Umlazi Township. This
was done through a silent protest on Thursday, 5
March. MUT students in all-black attire and tape over
their mouths, in solidarity with the eight out of nine
victims of abuse who are unable to report their cases,
took the campaign to the traffic lights in Umlazi’s V
Section and Megacity. The campaign capitalised
on the lunch hour traffic, raising awareness among
passing motorists.
“The war against GBV is far from over. The statistics
on reported cases are scary,” said Mkhize. “The
University will continue to raise awareness and do its
part in fighting the scourge.”
“Universities as knowledge
leaders in our society have an
important role to play in raising
awareness and equipping
staff and students with the
necessary information to bring
GBV perpetrators to book.”
Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director:
Marketing and Communications
MUT Clinic’s Cebi Nkosi addressing students at the Faculty of
Natural Sciences