Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
03 August 2020
|
Story Valentino Ndaba
Gender-based violence is generally a major concern in the country and the university in particular. Kovsies have a zero-tolerance towards any acts of violence.
We encourage the UFS community to break the silence so that perpetrators are brought to book. To abusers, we say: stop the violence! One of our students opens up about her experience in the video below.
We encourage others to Report gender-based violence, Sexual Harassment and any act of prejudice or discrimination to the Sexual Assault Response Team on
+27 51 401 7777 or
+27 0 80 020 4682 (24 hour toll free).
#StopSGBV #EndGenderBasedViolence #StopWomenAbuse #16DaysofActivism #StopGBV #16Days #EndSGBV #BSafe
Shushing, speaking, politicians, policing
2014-03-18
Prof Pumla Dineo Gqola Photo: Michelle Nothling |
Feminist writer, scholar and previous Kovsie staff member, Prof Pumla Dineo Gqola, recently launched her book at the Bloemfontein Campus. “A Renegade Called Simphiwe” explores the life – and controversy – of singer Simphiwe Dana.
The book tells the story of Dana, a rebellious artist and cultural activist. But it also delves much deeper – into the fabric of our society itself. It questions our expectations and reactions to the things that make us shift in our seats.
The politics of silencing
Artists should not involve themselves in politics. They should stick to what they’re good at. Dana and other artists know this silencing finger being waved at them all too well. It is this mentality that alarms Prof Gqola. “I’m very disturbed by the notion of policing our – especially female – artists.” She pointed out that it is mostly female artists in SA who are put under scrutiny, reigned in and censored. Not only by politicians, though. Our public also quickly steps in when an artist seems to step out of ‘their place’.
The proper place of art
“I’m part of the movement that believes art transforms,” said Prof Gqola. South Africa used to be a fertile ground for protest art. This had an immense impact on political and social transformation. “Then something happened,” Prof Gqola let the words linger. “The arts got divorced from its social transformative power.”
Why has art been publically marginalised?
The question remains.