The DUT Gender Forum hosted a Fun Walk yesterday (Wednesday 13 June 2012) morning, which saw University staff, students as well participants outside of the University having fun while sweating it out.

The DUT Gender Forum held the event in commemoration of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day as well as to create awareness around women and child abuse. The participants wore green ribbons in recognition of the right children have to be protected. The 2km competition started in the ML Sultan Campus.

Vashna Rabbiechun from the DUT Gender Forum said 45 percent of all reported rape cases are children. In the year 2010, Rabbiechun said, 15 000 children were murdered.

Nelson Munsamy, DUT Audio Visual Department Manager who is a member of the DUT Gender Forum said South Africa as a whole needs to take a more concerted and proactive effort in ensuring that women and children are never harmed. He said women and children must be protected by human action, not just the Constitution.

“Being a member of the Gender Forum is my way of highlighting and creating awareness about the problem. Let’s all be doers,” said Munsamy.
The event was jam packed. Participants got free gifts, scored freebees, participated in Zumba dancing and won lucky ticket draws. The top three walkers were Bongani Yengwa, Sports Studies lecturer, Colleen Lotz, Acting Sports Studies HOD and Nokuthula Mchunu, Biotechnology and Food Technology lecturer.

One of the highlights of the day was Thoko Khoza, a 74 year old woman who was celebrating her birthday on the day. Khoza, a vendor, sells food to DUT students. She participated “for the fun of it as well as to do her bit in the fights against children and women abuse”, she said.

“The walk was fun. Children must be brought up in a proper way. Their upbringing must be free from any form of abuse. I urge all parents to take proper care of their children. People who abuse women and children must be punished by the law,” said Khoza.

Biotechnology and Food Technology BTech student, Farnaaz Pillay who served as a marshal at the event said she and her friends participated in the event because they are outgoing students who like getting involved in social events and also because they are against abuse. She said while forums and discussions about gender and children abuse are essential, these should be beefed up with human action such as the provision of shelter as well as programmes that will help boost the confidence of victims.

–Sinegugu Ndlovu
Caption: DUT Gender Forum’s Vashna Rabbiechun congratulates 74 year old Thoko Khoza who finished yesterday’s 2km Gender Forum Fun Walk held at the ML Sultan Campus.