Minister leads campus dialogue on gender-based violence

EQUALITY and the protection of student rights must be the core business of the higher education sector.

This is according to newly appointed Minister of Higher Education, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, who was speaking at a dialogue with students and youth at Umfolozi TVET College in Mandeni.

The dialogue, which was part of the ‘Count me in: Together moving a non-violent South Africa forward’ campaign, gave students the platform to discuss concerns and challenges with regards to gender-based violence (GBV) in their communities and on campus.

‘The trauma survivors of gender-based violence deal with is an issue that compromises their access to education.

‘GBV affects individuals from all walks of life, no matter their sexual orientation, age, social standing or gender. It’s about time that this issue receives the serious attention it deserves,’ Minister Mkhize said.

Mkhize led a panel which included Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, CEO of Higher Education and Training’s HIV/Aids Programme, uMfolozi TVET College Principal Sam Zungu, GBV expert and researcher Professor Nqabomzi Gawe, TVET College Student Representative Lethu Mahlangu and University Student Representative Thubelihle Mtshali.

Ahluwalia said gender-based violence is ‘a massive problem in our higher education sector’.

‘I believe that empowered and knowledgeable students will be highly effective agents of social change within our communities,’ said Ahluwalia.

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