DUT’S Gender Forum held a protest near Greyville Racecourse to highlight the prevailing violence against women and children…

5 December 2011

Gender Forum takes action

DUT’S Gender Forum held a protest near Greyville Racecourse to highlight the prevailing violence against women and children. The hard hitting placards had many motorists hooting in support of the event. It was well attended with messages of hope, statements of courage that put the spotlight on the dire problem facing South Africa.

As a woman in South Africa you are more likely to be raped than educated. A study conducted by Interpol shows that a woman is raped every 17 seconds in South Africa. Our country also carries the shame of having shockingly high child abuse cases.

Ranilla Pillay the Chairperson of the Gender Forum and a counselor for the Advice Desk for the Abused said, “We do counsel and refer victims to the relevant professional bodies as and when the need arises. Thereafter ongoing support is provided to the victim. Abuse knows no color, creed, age, gender, race, or financial status.

“The picketing was to raise awareness, and educate people about Violence against Women and Children and empower people to take a stand against this scourge in our society.”

Nonhlanhla Mtshali a lecturer from DUT’s Biomedical Department said, “It is important to gain support against violence. We need to raise a healthy population who will be able to boost our economy because violence has a ripple effect and it causes serious harm in many areas of our lives.”

“There shouldn’t be violence of any kind not just of women and children and it is also important for men to partake in such events to show that we care,” said Paul Bindha from DUT’s Procurement Department.

Lucille August from DUT’s Financial Department said, “I know of someone who went to court after enduring abuse she is still waiting after 3 years for the matter to be resolved. The justice system needs to act timeously against perpetrators.”