“Stop the war on women’s bodies!” echoed throughout the packed Fred Crooks Sports Centre on the DUT Steve Biko Campus on Wednesday, 24 August 2016, as the DUT HIV/AIDS Centre, in partnership with Health Care Foundation, hosted DUT’s Second Silent Protest March.

The annual protest aims to raise awareness about the stigma that surrounds rape and the silence suffered by sexual violence survivors, the advocacy for a wider distribution of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and the connection between HIV and gender based violence.

People came in their numbers to participate in the march which showed a great increase from the previous year (2015). “When we started last year, it was the first time that we were hosting this event. We’ve seen a growth in the project this year” said Thobile Zulu, DUT HIV/AIDS Centre Manager.
Not only did the march receive a greater number of participants, there was also an increase in the number of male partakers.

“We encourage people to go spread the word. Go back spread the message, make people aware,” said Larissa Klazinga the Regional Policy and Advocacy Manager of Sothern Africa AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

– Siphephelo Sibiya and Phumeza Msongelwa

Pictured: Silent marchers during the DUT leg of the national Silent Protest March.