Durban:Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Nomusa Dube-Ncube has called on students at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to utilize their technical skills and innovation to develop practical solutions to combat gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa. She addressed this issue during the South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Students Association (SATVETSA) GBV Awareness and Career Fairs and Guidance Campaign at Thekwini TVET College's Asherville Campus in Durban.
According to South African Government News Agency, Dube-Ncube emphasized the urgency of moving beyond speeches against gender-based violence to seeking innovative solutions. The theme of the six-day campaign, "Safe Campuses, Safe Communities, Safe Futures!", will extend to various provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the importance of addressing GBVF at multiple societal levels. She advocated for career guidance and skills development as crucial tools in preventing GBVF, by enabling economic independence for women. Dube-Ncube also raised concerns over technology-facilitated abuse, urging students to develop safety applications and digital literacy campaigns to protect against online abuse.
Moreover, Dube-Ncube called for engineering students to design solar-powered lighting for frequently used routes and encouraged mapping of unsafe areas around campuses. She also stressed the need for social interventions, such as men's dialogues and peer education programs, to challenge harmful attitudes.
The campaign also focuses on the responsibility of higher education institutions to respond effectively to reports of GBV. Dube-Ncube reminded institutions of the Policy Framework to Address Gender-Based Violence in the Post-School Education and Training System, which mandates anti-GBV policies and support services for survivors.
Dube-Ncube announced plans to convene a workshop on GBV in the post-school education sector, involving SATVETSA student leaders. She tasked each campus participating in the campaign to propose technological and social solutions to GBV, with the strongest proposals to be considered for support and implementation.
The career guidance component of the campaign aims to promote economic independence and opportunities for young people. Dube-Ncube encouraged engagement with various Sector Education and Training Authorities and highlighted the importance of Work Integrated Learning.
Finally, Dube-Ncube reminded students of the support available through Higher Health's crisis line and urged them to contribute to building safer campuses and communities. The campaign precedes the country's 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, starting later in November.