Durban - “We should stop policing women, questioning their choices and condemning the way they dress; the blame for sexual violence lies with the perpetrator.”
So says Aids Healthcare Foundation policy and advocacy manager Larissa Klanzinga.
Klanzinga was at a dialogue about sexual violence on campus held at the Durban University of Technology on Wednesday.
DUT registrar, Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa, recalled a conversation she had had with vice chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa that in five years there had been no incident of sexual violence, assault or harassment reported at the institution. This, said Meyiwa, was concerning because it pointed to either there being no incidents, which was unlikely, or that incidents were being swept under the carpet.
“We are all equally vulnerable. When someone speaks out, we can’t ask them: ‘what were you wearing, where were you?’ “ she said.
It was to establish a platform to report such cases that a partnership with DUT, UKZN, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, McGill University in Canada, Agenda Feminist Media and the International Centre for Non-violence was born.
Part of the programme at DUT, are first year Thulisile Buthelezi and Snethemba Langa. As a student herself, Langa said some of the factors intimidating women into silence were fear of not being believed and pity and love towards the perpetrator.
This was especially problematic in situations where they were victimised while intoxicated, or by family members, said Buthelezi.
Mentoring the students is Nokuthula Magudulela. She said the aim of the mentorship programme was to facilitate girl-led intervention, empowering the young women and creating safe spaces where they could talk about issues related to sexual violence.
Magudulela said this was particularly important in the university community, where some women went out on their own for the first time.
“Some sexual violence has come to be treated as normal. The comments, whistling and looks; it does not mean just because you haven’t been touched, you haven’t been violated.”
DUT was of particular concerned because of the public roads between campuses accessible to anyone.
“There are always older men buzzing around. We have to consider the power dynamics which come into play when these men offer a student a meal, or airtime. She might believe he is helping her or that they are in a relationship, but truth is these are transactional relationships. These are sugar daddies and girls feel compelled to sleep with these men.”
Power dynamics also come into play inside campuses, where young women may be subjected to sexual advances, violence or harassment from staff members or lecturers.
“We want to create dialogue and raise awareness among students, student leadership and staff. Part of it will also channel victims to the already existing student counselling and gender desk at the SRC. Interventions which a girl may feel afraid to use without support,” said Magudulela. “It’s all about protecting girls in the university precinct.”
Daily News