A powerful collaboration between the W&RSETA, the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, and the Department of Retail Business Management recently hosted a Transformative Workshop aimed at tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV), inspiring change, and fostering a safer community for all.

In this workshop, the Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), in collaboration with CPUT, invited students to engage in an interactive and empowering session dedicated to tackling GBV through meaningful dialogue, education, and practical practices. Jonathan Aspeling, a lecturer in Retail Business Management, emphasised that this event was vital for raising awareness among students about the critical issues of GBV and femicide, providing a platform for student voices to resonate. Aspeling, who is also the project manager, commended the facilitation team for their extensive experience in GBV awareness training and support, ensuring that the workshop's goals of enhancing awareness and equipping participants with practical tools were successfully met.

“The workshops have reduced stigma, encouraging help-seeking, equipped students to support survivors, challenged harmful attitudes, and promoted a culture of accountability and equality.” 

He said the workshops benefit students by enhancing their awareness of GBV under the banner of “Not in my Name”, adding that the GBV awareness workshops are funded by the W&RSETA and hosted by the Retail Business Management Department, but have resulted in dynamic partnerships within the Business Management and Sciences Faculty and between different faculties. “Creating awareness about the scourge of gender-based violence prevalent in our communities and country, ensuring that our CPUT community is not only aware but is also encouraged to speak out, support, and address correct attitudes.”

Thuli Mjwara, the Strategic Advocacy Coordinator at IAM, facilitated the workshop. During a participatory exercise, students identified societal factors that contribute to GBV, including patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and restrictions on women’s choices. The session also emphasised the process of obtaining a protection order and explained important legal documents, such as the J88 form and victim impact statements, which are essential when reporting cases to the South African Police Service.

 “I believe this workshop will foster meaningful change, as it equips students with immediate access to a comprehensive directory of support services available within the Western Cape province. By empowering victims and first responders with this vital information, we take a crucial step towards ensuring timely assistance and intervention. Eradicating gender-based violence requires not only raising awareness but also making support services easily accessible to all, enabling survivors to report incidents and hold perpetrators accountable. This approach strengthens our collective effort to create safer communities.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT recently unveiled a banner on the Bellville Campus, outlining the institution’s position on Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Kuselwa Marala, Acting Director: Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity & Social Change, welcomed attendees and said part of the legislative framework relating to GBV in the Post-School Education and Training sector “urges us to be visible and advocate against GBV”.

“So what we are doing today is unveiling a statement by CPUT on our position as we try to fight the scourge against gender-based violence.”

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said the institution’s position on GBV is very clear, unambiguous and unapologetic. 

He said visitors to CPUT should be able to look up at the banner and say, “that is our position”’.

Nhlapo said that as a Higher Education Institution, he expected the university to also look at the impact that “we have made ever since we took this posture”.

“Let’s reflect as academics to say is there any dent, how are our numbers looking, have we seen reduction in terms of the figures that we are getting…”

He added that it was also key to look at whether we were embracing leading practice as far as addressing and facing the scourge head-on.

“It is known in literature that one out of three women experience GBV in their lives. And we are saying one GBV case is one GBV case too many at CPUT.”

In closing remarks, Dr David Phaho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, said that as “we unveil the banner, lest we forget those who have suffered and died both in our country and beyond our borders, simply because of their gender or sexual orientation”.

Banners will also be unveiled on the university’s other campuses.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Delegates attending the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Higher Education Dialogue called for action to tackle issues of GBV head-on.

Held on the Bellville Campus this week, the dialogue was organised by the Division of Student Affairs in partnership with the Institutional Transformation Unit in response to the recent spate of sexual assault, GBV and femicide incidents perpetrated against women in higher education institutions.

The dialogue was attended by student leaders and staff members of CPUT, the University of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch University and gender activists. Also in attendance were officials from the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology as well as the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).

Prem Coopoo, CPUT’s Dean of Students, said GBV was the new silent pandemic that required everyone to be activists in their homes. “The real solution to GBV lies with men, men should tell perpetrators that they will expose them,” said Coopoo.

She added that various forms of support should be given to victims of GBV and that the greatest travesty of justice is when anyone approaches victims of rape and GBV to withdraw charges against their perpetrators.

CPUT Central SRC President, Sipho Mokoena, lamented the fact no one speaks to the rapist but women are taught to avoid rape by wearing certain type of clothing and walking in certain places at certain times.

Sixolile Ngcobo, CGE’s Provincial Manager, said now was the time to take action and for individuals to realise that solutions to GBV begin with their actions and reactions.

Co-ordinator: Gender Non-Violence at Stellenbosch University, Thembelihle Bongwana, observed that women had once in their lives been forced to perform sexual favours for men in order to even enter the higher education space both for learning and accommodation purposes.

“In the context of our institutions of higher learning, it is quite imperative that we call for heightened oversight and review of existing policies, and disciplinary codes, and bridge the gap in much-needed policy reform through our Institutional Forums, and this can only happen if it is championed by chancellors, Rectorates, DVCs, Faculty Deans, Senior Management Teams and other Statutory Bodies.”

Dr Navindhra Naidoo, Emergency Medical Sciences senior lecturer at CPUT, asserted that hegemonic masculinity perpetuated the dominant social position of men and the subordinate social position of women

Written by Kwanele Butana
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In response to the recent wave of violence perpetrated against women, staff members and students assembled for a day of mourning on the Bellville Campus on Monday.

Dressed in black, the CPUT community gathered in front of the Administration building in show of solidarity to victims and survivors of gender-based violence and to acknowledge the first-year CPUT Nursing Sciences student who was abducted and raped after finishing a shift last week.

Addressing the crowd, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, re-emphasised management’s commitment to zero tolerance for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and urged students and staffers to join hands and take action.

“Be vigilant of this GBV monster in and outside of university spaces,” said Nhlapo adding that the GBV Emergency Number is 021 959 6550 and Department of Student Affairs’ is 060 980 0286

Nhlapo also emphasised some of the interventions already in place at the institution including the following:

• Thorough vetting of staff during recruitment;
• A basic “green” or safe route through campuses;
• Stronger access controls and CCTV cameras;
• More security patrols, lighting and a rapid response unit on campuses;
• Better monitoring of number plates;
• After hours for the campus clinic and counselling departments and;
• A tribunal and ombudsman for GBV cases;

Female student leaders, representing all campuses, also used the platform to raise their ideas for making their campuses safer for all.

“Ultimately we believe the points being made by female students were valid, and they were discussed at length at a Management Committee meeting held directly after the programme,” Nhlapo later reported in a communique to the university’s community.

Nonkosi Tyolwana, Director: Transformation, Social Cohesion and Diversity, said academic freedom fosters open and public debate over major issues facing society.

 “Your presence today gives the university great courage and hope,” said Tyolwana. “GBV is not just another form of violence. It is a threat to human life. A denial of human dignity. Sadly our female students and staff suffer the most.” 

Ultimately we believe the points being made by female students were valid, and they were discussed at length at a Management Committee meeting held directly after the programme.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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The Nursing Science Department hopes that self-defence classes for first-year students will help to keep the aspiring nurses safe.

The scourge of gender-based violence in the country and a recent attack on a nursing student outside Tygerberg Hospital prompted the Department to act.

“With the national focus on gender-based violence last year, the Department decided that we had to take the lead and help our students to empower themselves,” said lecturer, Suveena Singh.
She said the lessons were offered free of charge as part of the orientation programme for the first-years.

The lessons were presented by Shihan Mike Chong and students were shown basic techniques to vend off an attacker.

Students enjoyed the classes and said they were grateful for the skills they had been equipped with.

“It taught me to always be aware of my surroundings and to protect myself,” said first-year student, Sphesihle Mngomezulu.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Prof Paul Green, Dean: Faculty of Business and Management Sciences raves about the students who developed an app to help in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and achieved a second place in League 4 in the 2022 Enactus South Africa Competition held at Sandton Convention Centre.

The Enactus competition is an annual inter-university event among the 26 universities in South Africa (SA) where the ultimate winner goes on to represent South Africa against all other countries in the world at the global finals in the USA. Green said Enactus is an international non-profit organisation based in Springfield, Missouri. He says it is an international social entrepreneurship project presentation competition for university students, initially named Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

“The aim is to get students excited about community engagement, socio-economic upliftment, and free market economy and to immerse them in the role of entrepreneurs and companies within the market economy. These are all aligned with the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.”

Team CPUT competed in the fourth league (there are four leagues, and the University competes in the league drawn) as a semi-finalist and team CPUT won the second prize trophy for their community-based project named “4All” an App developed in addressing GBV, especially in the low economic area of Elsies River as a pilot project. “This in itself is a huge feat for team CPUT, gauging from the limited time and resources that were available to the team for its preparation for the competition,” Green enthuses.

He adds: “The students’ project is topical in today’s socio-economic ills we witness in our society. It brings 21st century skills and the CPUT Graduate Attributes from the classroom into practice within our communities.”

The team members are Mpho Serepo, a second-year student: Diploma in Accountancy, Vivian Boyce, second-year student in Construction Management, Tshifhiwa Mudau, third-year in Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Science, Thabo Ntshabele, in-service trainee in Electrical Engineering, Zuma Noluthando, third-year, Chemical engineering, Walusungu Kaira, Master’s student in Chemical Engineering, Sabelo Mashinini, third-year in Industrial Engineering, Tanyaradzwa Hove, Bachelor of Technology Honours in Electrical Engineerin and Akhani Sopangisa second-year, Civil Engineering.

Mpho, the project leader, says: “I am very happy about the achievement and I also feel the need for CPUT to invest in such an organisation that will not only change the students’ lives but the lives of the country, or maybe the world at large.” She said their project is called 4All because it caters for everyone regardless of their class, race, sexuality and age, “also because it’s designed to help combat every type of violence (mental, physical, sexual)”.

“The aim of the project is to help in combating GBV.”

This project is an App that has a panic button that alerts the listed next of kin, community volunteers, police, and ambulance in case of emergency. It also has the social feature that allows the user to talk to the social worker or a psychologist. “It has the legal feature where one can get advice from a lawyer and also be guided on the necessary steps to open a case, news feed page, where the user will get updates about the GBV statistics in their surrounding area. Anything recorded on the app will be used as an electronic police statement. “This an App that will assist the SAPS in case of dockets theft ...”

Mpho added that it took hard work, dedication, discipline, and a few sleepless nights for them to achieve their feat.

“4All is an App developed in addressing GBV, through the enthusiasm of Team CPUT in their quest to address socio-ills in their communities, and their task was tackled with benevolence. The App addresses real societal challenges in the now, it’s relevant. GBV is a real serious problem, we need to celebrate women and children day every day and not only once a year, that is inclusive with the LGBT+, but it is also paramount to me, that is a serious scourge in need of remedial action, indeed a serious topic for the CPUT community at large,” Green added.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The CPUT Convocation’s Dry Campus initiative strives towards a substance abuse- and gender-based violence-free campus.

The initiative is supported by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and the Advancement Department and a thought-provoking event, attended by a range of stakeholders, was recently held at the Bellville campus.

The external stakeholders included SAB Miller, Distell, National Liquor Traders, the SA National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and SafeClick24.

In his opening remarks Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said alcohol consumption is a risk factor for many health and safety problems in South Africa, including sexual and domestic violence, homicide, assault and road traffic accidents while chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, are exacerbated by alcohol.

He said that if one chooses to use alcohol, it was important to do so appropriately.

The audience was touched by guest speaker Brandon “the white kid” Smit, who shared his life story.

This was followed by a panel discussion, led by programme director and moderator Andiswa Mrasi, with the panel consisting of Zukiswa Gaqavu from Distell, Lucky Ntimane from the National Liquor Traders, Ivan Waldeck from SANTACO, Nonkosi Tyolwana, Acting Dean of Students and Convocation executive member, Athenkosi Nyangiwe.

Some of the topics discussed included safety onboard taxis, programmes to help curb substance abuse, responsible drinking and taking personal responsibility for one’s choices.

The panel also engaged in a lively question and answer session with audience members.

Registrar Sello Mokoena encouraged students to “do what you think is right for you”.

“The decision that you take at your youth level has the potential to affect you throughout your life. So, if you take good decisions now you have paved a very good life for you going forward. But if you make mistakes … that has the potential to ruin your life.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT is making steady progress with the institution’s Policy on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) with a recently formed steering committee set to take the process forward.

The 15-member committee consists of academic and non-academic staff, Legal Services, Student Counselling, the HIV/Aids unit, Human Capital, the incoming SRC President as well as representatives from the Department of Justice and the National Prosecuting Authority.

The draft policy has already been circulated to staff and students and the feedback received will be discussed at the committee’s next meeting, according to Melanie Marais, steering committee member and Head of the HIV/Aids Unit.

“The steering committee will be taking the process forward. We are getting systems and processes in place to ensure that awareness happens on GBV and that there is a formal setting when it comes to reporting the stats. We will follow the necessary processes before the policy goes to MANCOM and eventually to Council for approval.”

Marais encouraged students to report incidents of GBV.

“If you are in residence, report incidents to your residence coordinator, on campus to the head of your department or campus protection services. In rape cases, the rape survivor will be taken to their nearest Thuthuzela Care Centre where specialised support and prescribed medical intervention will take place. It’s very important that the rape survivor doesn’t shower or bath as this will wash evidence away. The incident needs to be reported as soon as possible. An antiretroviral drug has to be started within 72 hours after the incident.”

Marais said the institution has a zero tolerance on sexual & gender-based violence and is committed to supporting survivors of GBV and would do its utmost to ensure the privacy of survivors of GBV.

Campus Security can be reached on the following numbers:

Bellville (021) 959 6301/6550

Cape Town: (021) 460 3122/3631

Granger Bay: 021 440 5726

Mowbray: (021) 680 1582

Wellington: (021) 864 5551

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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This past weekend CPUT hosted a successful Young Women Empowerment Conference.

Close to two hundred of female students from Western Cape higher education institutions descended on Bellville campus for a two day conference focused on issues facing them. The programme included speakers talking about dealing with the challenges of HIV/Aids and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as well as workshops on everything from digital storytelling to leadership lessons and personal development tips.

Minister of Women in the Presidency Bathabile Dlamini’s keynote address on the first day urged the young students to respect themselves and not buy into the patriarchal idea that men are better.

“Women have capacity and ability. When we are given responsibility we perform but we don’t bully our way through, we impart knowledge. You have heard the saying ‘teach a woman, you teach the nation’,” Dlamini reminded the students.

She encouraged them to be more vocal in ensuring older people in power better understand the challenges faced by students in tertiary education as contemporary problems are very different to what she faced as a young woman.

“It is for students to create support structures and make sure society understands how it impacts on your life. As a tertiary institution you need to come up with new ideas for dealing proactively with the issue of violence against women and children,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini and Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, CEO of Higher Education and Training Health Wellness & Development Centre (HEAIDS), commended CPUT on launching its own Institutional Gender-Based Violence Position Statement.

Ahluwalia pointed out that a policy for all higher education institutions on how to deal with gender-based violence is currently awaiting approval from Cabinet. This policy includes details on disciplinary tribunals for offenders and the need to be more victim centric in all approaches.

“We need to build an army to deal with gender-based violence on campuses in the same way we built the peer to peer educators to deal with HIV infections.

“The way you come out for early testing for HIV we need you to report incidents of GBV on campuses,” said Ahluwalia.

Written by Theresa Smith
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“There is a new man at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.  A man who takes responsibility for his actions.

A man that will not participate in, approve of or remain silent about any form of violence.”

This is the introduction of the commitment pledge that was recited at the launch of CPUT’s Men’s Forum yesterday (August 16).

The Forum aims to involve men to be part of the solution in the fight against gender-based violence.

At the function, which also saw the launch of the Institutional Gender-Based Violence Position Statement, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Chris Nhlapo said the institution wants to produce graduates who are good citizens.

“We don’t want to produce people with PhDs but they are not good human beings.”

The university has already started a campaign, called the Amajita Men’s Campaign, and a number of discussions amongst and about men have taken place.

“We’re discussing as men issues about treating our ladies. We are going to ensure that we take care of them,” said Nhlapo.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT today declared a zero tolerance approach against gender-based violence.

The Institutional Position Statement on Gender-Based Violence was officially launched this morning at a function where the university and government partners made it clear that gender-based violence had no place in higher education institutions.

“We are saying: ‘We don’t have an appetite for gender-based violence. We don’t have tolerance for gender-based violence and as an institution, we are going to deal harshly with all these particular aspects if they try in any way to rear their ugly head within the confines of CPUT, said Vice-Chancellor, Dr Chris Nhlapo.

Deputy Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela commended CPUT for its progressive approach in developing the policy.

“Gender-based violence, including rape and other forms of sexual harassment remains one of the foremost challenges that we have to tackle hand in hand as citizens and as government. We cannot treat gender-based violence with a business as usual attitude.”

He said the scourge of gender-based violence at higher education institutions had been a constant plague that interferes with students’ studies and careers.

“It corrupts the integrity of the education system and erodes the Constitutional rights to equality, dignity and freedom from all forms of violence.”

Thokozani Nyawasha from The Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) said the Higher Education Gender-Based Violence Policy Framework, would ensure that all universities and colleges must have dedicated gender-based violence police. She said this policy was currently undergoing internal processes before its planned release later this year.

“Our hearts bleed when we witness an increase in gender-based violence in institutions of higher learning. We, however, find solace in what we are witnessing today. This day shows that it is time to act and not to talk. While many universities and TVET colleges still do not have any policies on gender-based violence CPUT has demonstrated leadership”.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The highlight of Women’s Month at CPUT will be the launch of the Gender-Based Violence Policy on 16 August.

Students and staff are invited to attend the launch of the GBV policy which replaces the Sexual Harassment Policy. A Men’s Forum will also be launched at the same event.

In addition to the GBV Policy launch, the institution will host the 2018 Young Women Empowerment Conference on 18-19 August aimed at female students at Western Cape higher education institutions, including TVET colleges.

The Policy and Men’s Forum launch takes place between 10 am and 1 pm on 16 August in the Sports Hall on Bellville Campus.

On 18 August CPUT Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo will welcome students and speakers, including the conference's two keynote speakers Minister of Women in the Presidency Minister Bathabile Dlamini and Artscape CEO Dr Marlene le Roux.

Head of CPUT’s HIV/Aids Unit Melanie Marais said while the conference was aimed at female students the launch of the GBV Policy and Men’s Forum was open to everyone.

“The Institutional Position Statement on gender-based violence and the Policy has been discussed widely and approved by management. We have to acknowledge that yes, men are part of the problem of gender-based violence, but they are also part of the solution,” said Marais.

She said last year’s Young Women Leadership Conference was well attended and well received and this year there will be breakaway sessions on men as partners in GBV, networking and social media, reproductive health, entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development as well as digital storytelling. During the plenary sessions, gender-based violence, mental health and disability and access will all form part of important conference discussions.
Student Development Officer Melani Hara said she has been working closely with Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Innovative Educational Technology Daniela Gachago on the digital storytelling aspect. They will use videos that have already been created to elicit stories about the issues young people are facing.

“It gives a platform to the young women who are attending on the day. The conference is as much about the important people who will attend as it is about the youngsters, to give them a chance to gain skills and learn,” said Hara.

Anyone interested in attending the launch of the Gender Based Violence Policy and Men’s Forum can follow this link and check here for more information on the conference.

• CPUT GBV Position Statement

Written by Theresa Smith
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CPUT and the University of Karlstad in Sweden are collaborating on a new community-based research project with a focus on gender-based violence (GBV). 

Prof Penelope Engel-Hills, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences is the South African principal investigator on the study titled: Internationalisation for Knowledge Partnership and Social Transformation.

Funding for the project was received from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT).
“Our project has two legs. One is community-based research with a focus on GBV and the other is capacity-building for improved research skills for postgraduate students, supervisors and researchers using the community-based research approach,” said Engel-Hills.

The research will be carried out in a community on the south peninsula.
“An NGO in the community has come on board and we’ll be working with women in the community to look at what the community responses are to gender-based violence.”
Engel-Hills said there were NGOs and ordinary residents in the community who were offering counselling, employment and other options for women who had been affected by GBV.

“There is a lot of work being done but what we understood from the community is that they would like to know what works and what more they can do. We want to try to drive change through research and model ways that communities can positively respond to violence. Once we’ve looked at all the options we’ll consider implementing a new idea in the community. It’s all about what is right for that community and what they want.”

In terms of capacity building, the project aims to develop skills in innovative research methods and promote ethical awareness that will enable research in communities.
“We will be running workshops. We have already run a pilot at CPUT for our postgraduate students and we’re looking at two things. The first is the ethical dimensions of research in communities such as this one. The second is methodology. So we’ll put experts together and to do the training innovative ways.”

Engel-Hills said the researchers were hoping that through gathering “living knowledge” they would be able to make a positive contribution to social transformation as researchers.
“For me, it’s about what do we do responsibly with the knowledge we build to change lives. That’s the competence we need to develop in postgraduate students in order to build a generation of young researchers who can really contribute to finding solutions to the problems in SA in a meaningful way.”

Researcher: Prof Engel-Hills

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Statistics on gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa are staggeringly high and universities are not immune to the scourge.

As part of its response, the Department of Higher Education and Training and HEAIDS is developing a standardised framework for GBV, which will eventually be implemented at all universities across South Africa.

CPUT is among the institutions who decided to take a stand against GB and an Institutional Position Statement on gender-based violence has been drafted.

The university’s new GBV policy should be launched in August.

The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences has been proactive in starting to align staff members with the policy through a series of seminars that seek to unpack the interventions that have been or could be used to reduce gender-based violence in a particular health profession.

The seminars consider interventions that promote gender equality and that challenge accepted cultural norms that endorse violence against women and girls. It may include descriptions of how interventions have been implemented and evaluated in a variety of social contexts, including schools and community structures, and how these might be replicated and/or modified for use in a health profession. NGO partnerships provide the civil society responses of crisis intervention, advocacy and community of practice. The methodological rigour is supported by McMaster University’s National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (Canada).

 “If we acknowledge that one in three women will be victims of abuse in their lifetime then the implication is that one in three female students or staff members may possibly be victims and reciprocally, that one in three males may be perpetrators,” says Dr Navindhra Naidoo, acting head of the Emergency Medical Sciences Department and one of several collaborators on the draft policy.

“We are putting the issue on our professional agendas. We are looking at what is our science, what is our agenda, what are the tools of our trade and how can we use the ‘tools’ of our proverbial ‘trade’ to be inclusive of gender-based violence.”

Prof Penelope Engel-Hills, Acting Dean of the Faculty, said the faculty was taking a critical look at how and whether the issue of GBV was being dealt with in the classroom and in the curriculum.

“We know that at least ten percent of reported rapes occur in Higher Education Institutions. We really feel that if we get our lecturers and researchers talking about this, together with our support staff, we can influence what happens at CPUT.”

 Naidoo said the issue of GBV affected all three of the university’s pillars of teaching and learning, research and community engagement.

“In terms of teaching and learning, if students are intimidated or in constant fear they cannot meaningfully study. Being free of violence is a social determinant of one's education. We need to ensure that we provide a safe environment to promote and protect one’s health and education rights.”

He said much of CPUT’s research did not deal with the socio-political context of violence.

“We need to get our respective professions more connected to our students’ lived realities.”

Naidoo said our campuses were not protected from and our processes not protective of the escalating frequency and brutality of GBV.

“…that’s why we need to do community engagement activities. We need to take the issue back to the community and say we as researchers have looked at this issue and we have the following policy recommendations so we can start influencing change. That’s how CPUT becomes an agent of change rather than a place where victims (and perpetrators) are ‘born’.”

Engel-Hills concurred: “Our research and our identity as being educators should work together and it must bring a positive influence in our communities”.

To read more about the policy, please click here: https://www.cput.ac.za/newsroom/news/article/3535/cput-takes-stand-against-gender-based-violence

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT has upped the ante in its fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

In June the institutions’ Executive Management were trained on their responsibilities in handling GBV, now the rest of the CPUT community is in line to receive similar training.

The training roll-out puts CPUT at the forefront of the higher education sector’s response to this societal scourge.

This is because CPUT is the first university to internalise and institutionalise the fight against GBV via its dedicated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Committee, which is chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo.

The high-level institutional GBV committee is comprised of delegates from the SRC and Management and aims to ensure accountability, coordination, and leadership of the GBV Policy for Higher Education.

Nonkosi Tyolwana, Director for Institutional Transformation, Social Cohesion and Diversity, says the GBV training will be cascaded through the university committee in the coming few months.

“The training will explore how gender identities are defined in our formative years, and how this resonates in a 21st century context,” says Tyolwana.

“This becomes critical conversations to have with a higher education context when you have young people from all walks of life intermingling for the first time in their lives. We also need to remain aware of the natural power imbalances that can form within a university context. If we arm our students and staff to be conscious of this then they can avoid GBV pitfalls.”

CPUT’s GBV training and the response have been crafted in response to the Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority.

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT is taking a stand against gender-based violence with the development of a new policy. The HIV/Aids Unit, in collaboration with the Student Counselling Department, Dr Navindhra Naidoo, Acting Head of the Emergency Medical Sciences Department and student interest groups led by Chad Chippe from the Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care programme have joined hands to draft an Institutional Position Statement on gender-based violence.

“Currently, one woman is killed by her intimate partner every eight hours, the highest incidence in the world,” says Melanie Marais, Head of the HIV/Aids Unit. “There is a national drive that universities must ensure it has an updated gender-based violence policy in place. Gender-based violence happens at HEIs including our own institution and we would like to see CPUT be a safe place for all students and staff where human rights are respected by everyone.”

The institution’s Sexual Harassment Policy was recently reviewed and Marais says it will be recommended that it be renamed as the Gender-Based Violence Policy with sub-headings, namely intimate partner violence, sexual harassment and stalking, sexual assault and rape. A number of workshops were held during 2017 and a final draft was presented to various departments on March 20.

The main objectives of the policy will include ensuring the safety of the CPUT community by putting in place and maintaining the necessary safety infrastructure; comprehensive, educative and preventative programs toward raising awareness of human rights. It will also aim to ensure there is a specialised but accessible procedure for reporting cases of gender-based violence and strive to ensure that there is a comprehensive, specialised medical and psychosocial support and other appropriate responses for survivors of gender-based violence.

“The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Prof Anthony Staak, will present the Policy at the Deans Forum. It will also be forwarded to the Registrar’s office and via a link to all students and staff,” says Marais.

The GBV policy is now ready for submission to the Management Committee for review and comments. Staff and students will soon see the first draft being circulated for their input before it is submitted to Council for approval. “The planned launch date will be August 18, the weekend of the 2018 Young Women Leadership Conference taking place on the Bellville Campus once approval is obtained,” says Marais. She appealed to more men to lend their support to the fight against gender-based violence.

Staff and students can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how they can get involved.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences recently resumed face-to-face orientation sessions for first-year students on the District Six Campus.

“The number of students who attended the face-to-face sessions surpassed numbers expected as well as orientation sessions pre-Covid-19, as most departments had approximately 80% of the registered students attending orientation in 2022,” said Mandie Richards, Business Information and Administration (BIA) senior lecturer. Richards added that seeing the piazza abuzz with animated students laughing and chatting was a “heart-warming moment” as students are the life and energy of the institution.  “The enthusiasm and excitement exuded by students to be on campus added to the atmosphere, as students quickly connected with lecturers and their peers and [had] an exciting start to their academic journey.”

Richards said although most departments concluded the orientation sessions on Friday, 25 February, a few departments further engaged first years in face-to-face sessions during the remainder of the first term.

The departments were introduced by Faculty Dean, Prof Paul Green, utilizing a welcome video (hyperlink https://youtu.be/vXroQY20GhE)

The BIA department, as did most departments, invited various speakers from industry, alumni, and service departments to engage with students.  Students were also welcomed from the outset by the BIA student assistants at the entrance of the campus Administration Building and escorted to the orientation venues. Lively discussions with an external organisation, Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), took place, and issues of gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment and students’ rights were discussed. The sessions provided students with contact details of various organisations that will assist and counsel them should students require such help.

“Many questions emanated from the students, and the Faculty will continue these conversations as part of the First Year Experience, as GBV is a mandatory module for first years in the Faculty and integrated into the curriculum,” said Richards.  The Financial Aid Office presented relevant information about NSFAS (write in full), and shared vital information regarding financial issues, that are uppermost on many students’ minds who require financial assistance.  

The Cape  Town Hotel School engaged vendors and suppliers to meet with students at the Granger Bay Campus, and the Campus turned into a mini-expo with tasty treats available for students to purchase and a good introduction to cuisine offered at the Hotel School, which was recently awarded a 4-star rating. 

Students in all departments were given a campus tour to familiarise themselves with the campus. They attended sessions held in the computer laboratories to allow them to log in to their emails, activate their accounts, and gain assistance in navigating Blackboard.  Departments also invited the Disability Unit, Student Counselling Unit, the Library, the HIV/Aids Unit and Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development to engage with students and advise on various support structures at CPUT to assist students.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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