Together, we can bring gender-based violence to end

More than 100 Rosebank College Students attended the Gender Based Violence – GBV – awareness talk, on Thursday, 11 August, in Durban. The event, organised by non-governmental organisation LoveLife emphasised the message that silence breeds violence and it time for a remix.

Lovelife facilitators interacting with Rosebank College students. In this picture we see GroundBreaker written on the back of the Lovelife facilitator’s T-shirt – with the aims of sending a powerful message to break the cycle of GBV.

Lovelife re-committed themselves to supporting women and highlighted that gender-based violence remains a serious matter in South Africa. According to the country’s annual police crime statistics confirm that, more than 146 sexual offences are committed every day.

It’s also important to note that the student wellness services at Rosebank College have always been available to support students who are victims of gender-based violence and create a space where they allow victims to share their thoughts and feel safe.

Lovelife representative Sinethemba Zulu proudly wore a T-shirt with the word GroundBreaker. She says, “My T-shirt symbolises enough is enough, more especially in the month of August since it’s Women’s Month. It is important to stand together and break the silence of gender-based violence so that South Africa can hopefully become a gender-based violence free country.”

Sinethemba added that gender based violence does not only occurs to women only, but children and men are also victim of gender based violence.

“Silence breeds violence and it time for remix”

During the event, students were asked to form two groups and compete against each other. Students were given six questions each and the group which answered best, were crowned winners.

One of the most important statements to emerge from the questions and answer session was by a student, Mlungisi Mkhize a second year Logistics student, who said, “Wearing sexy clothes or flirting does not mean you are asking for it.” This was in response to a question about rape.

Students hailed this event as a success.
Nozipho Ngcongo a first year Public relations student said, “I really enjoyed myself now I know what to do when I am facing any issues regarding gender-based violence. I am grateful to be part of this event it shows that Rosebank College cares for their students.”