As violence against women continues unabated in South Africa, the Durban University of Technology Student Representative Council has submitted a memorandum to the eThekwini Municipality.

The memorandum that was to be handed this morning by DUT SRC and the students to the Mayor of eThekwini, Councillor Zandile Gumede, urges the municipality to take immediate and effective action against the victimisation of women in Durban and its surrounding areas.

DUT SRC President, Zama Mncube said that crimes against women were not only the concern of their families but a public issue that needed to be addressed by the entire community. “Our University is in the Central Business District (CBD), everyone knows that people residing around CBD’s are vulnerable, therefore we cannot shy away from societal issues. We don’t want to wait until the day one of our students is found dead and raped,” she said.

In its memorandum, the SRC has pleaded with the Municipality to take drastic action in addressing these crimes. “A serious intervention from the eThekwini municipality and the eThekwini Metro police as well as the office of the Mayor would be of paramount importance. We don’t want a temporal solution but a resolution that will reap positive outcomes as far as safety and security of our sisters and the entire community is concerned,” said Mncube.

The march started at DUT Steve Biko Campus and ended at King Dinizulu Gardens (formerly known as Botha Park) and was attended by over 200 students with members of the public that joined during the address by the SRC President at King Dinizulu Gardens.

Pictured: DUT SRC President leading DUT students as they marched from Steve Biko Campus to King Dinizulu Gardens.

Noxolo Memela