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13 November 2018
Photo Moeketsi Mogotsi
Kovsies took an active stance against sexual and gender-based violence through various campaigns in October.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced that South Africa will launch a national strategic plan to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) after years of lobbying by activists. Speaking at the Presidential GBV Summit, the head of state commended activists who called for a nationwide shut down in August in response to high levels of GBV and femicide in the country. He says the government is now reviewing national GBV plans and will develop a national action plan.
Activism at the UFS
One of the efforts launched by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Gender and Sexual Equity (GSE) Office in the fight against this plague is the # RESPECTME campaign. From 11 to 26 October 2018, the university held its own 16 Days of Activism.
Geraldine Lengau of the GSE Office believes that minority groups deserve the same amount of respect as all other citizens of this country, which is the core concept of the campaign. “The Campaign is a loudhailer to say, ‘just because I am different from you’, be it gender or sexuality, it doesn’t mean that I deserve any less respect,” she highlighted.
Lengau added: “Activism will forever remain important on our campuses as it creates an environment where the community is made aware of matters that would otherwise not have mattered had they not been publicised. Also activism becomes all the more important in advancing the university’s strategic plan.”
Policies advocating against GBV
As stipulated in the UFS Sexual Harassment, Misconduct and Sexual Violence Policy the university strongly believes in the principle of human dignity that is entrenched in the Constitution of South Africa (1996) which resolves to ensure a safe working and study environment for students.
Student Affairs also led a campaign which aimed to highlight the ongoing scourge of sexual and gender-based violence, in line with the policy. “The university is working relentlessly at endorsing the aspects and characteristic traits of respect amongst all of its stakeholders in an effort to reduce the notion of gender-based violence,” said the Dean of Student Affairs, Pura Mgolombane.
Perhaps a Kovsie to wear the Miss SA crown?
2014-02-11
Rolene Strauss and Dipalesa Mbola, two of our students, in the top 12 of this illustrious beauty contest
Two Kovsie students, Rolene Strauss and Dipalesa Mbola, will be on stage when Miss South Africa 2014 is crowned on 30 March 2014. After gruelling elimination rounds, they will ultimately be competing with ten other young women for the prestigious title at Sun City.
It is the second time Rolene will be up on stage at Sun City for this event that will be broadcast to over a million people. She was in the top five of the competition in 2011. Dipalesa Mbola, a Business Management student, is making her debut at the competition this year.
Follow Rolene and Dipalesa’s experiences in the reality programme The Road to Miss South Africa, Sundays at 17:30 on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161).