DUT’s Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr John Volmink, has expressed his full support for the Silent Protest March which is set to take place on Wednesday, 24 August 2016.

Dr Volmink was speaking during a meeting with the DUT HIV/AIDS Centre which is organising the March in partnership with the Health Care Foundation.

The Silent Protest March is a national campaign that aims to raise awareness about the stigma surrounding rape and the silence that often plagues victims and survivors of this abuse. The campaign also advocates for a wider distribution of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and the connection between HIV and gender based violence.
This (2016) will be the second year that the University (DUT) is hosting the March.

Dr Volmink who unfortunately will not be attending the March due to prior commitments said he hopes for a successful event. He emphasised the importance of breaking the silence suffered by victims of sexual abuse and gender based violence. “It’s time that we as the higher education sector hold hands and speak out (against abuse),” he said.

The March will commence at 7h30 at the DUT Fred Crookes Sport Centre, Steve Biko Campus, and is open to both staff and students.
– Phumeza Msongelwa