Dr N Mahlalela, the Municipal Manager of Ehlanzeni, initiated the competition with the support of EDM Executive Mayor, Honourable Cllr Jesta Sidell. The competition tasked participating students with developing a GBVF strategy and implementation plan for their respective institutions.
University of Mpumalanga (UMP) students were working under the guidance of Dr Nozwakazi Maqubela, Senior Lecturer and Chairperson of the Gender Forum at UMP. She assisted the students with developing the winning GBVF strategy and implementation plan. Their hard work and dedication to this cause earned them the top prize in the competition.
Mazwi Mgwenya, the Chairperson of the GBV Student Association at UMP, expressed his excitement about the victory, stating that, “this victory marks the beginning of a new journey, with higher expectations and a greater responsibility to implement the plan in our institution. It also puts UMP under pressure to lead the implementation of this strategy and serve as an example to other institutions in the district.”
Mgwenya also noted that their hard work and dedication to the competition has paid off.
“The sleepless nights, time off from our studies and hard work was not wasted effort. This was not an easy task but we pulled through," he added.
"I want to thank Dr Maqubela for her guidance and support, and my teammates: Tertia Nkosi, Siyabonga Shongwe, Mbuyelo Maluleke, Tapelo Ngwenya, and Rethabile Malope. This win says, we have made progress in our efforts to end gender-based violence in our institution.”
Chairperson of the Gender Forum at UMP, Dr Maqubela speaking at the event.
Speaking at the event, Dr Mahlalela emphasized the importance of collaboration between different sectors and institutions of higher learning, as the fight against GBVF cannot be won alone.
“We have established a committee with students and lecturers on how we can deal with this problem. Our role is to support and develop their own strategies because they're within their institutions and they know the problems.”
Dr Mahlalela further said the strategies developed by students were in line with the National Strategic Plan on GBV which is government's comprehensive strategy for tackling all forms of violence and abuse against women and children.
Dr Maqubela explains that UMP has been conducting a series of events, among others, running GBV workshops for various student structures that work directly with students, engaging students in dialogues, campaigns and other events and activities on awareness raising.
Dr N Mahlalela initiated the competition.
This year, the first activity that was proposed was in response to the newly developed National Strategic Plan during the Presidential l Summit on GBV, the Higher Health GBV Guidelines as well as DHET GBV Framework.
Dr Maqubela said she was proud with her students, “I’m really impressed with their willingness and commitment to this initiative. Even with a lot of schoolwork to catch up on, they made time to develop this strategy.”
The R200 000 prize money will be used to support various UMP GBV activities, and/or towards resources required for advancing the fight against GBV and creating ‘safe spaces’ in the institution.
@ Lisa Thabethe. Pictures by ChrisplPhoto.