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UFS athletes unite against GBV

07 August 2020 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Varsity Sports

Shindre Lee_read more — Shindré-Lee Simmons, Kovsies’ women’s hockey captain, has represented South Africa at U21 level and has been playing for the UFS for five years.

It is time to unite and stand up against gender-based violence (GBV) to address and eradicate this scourge in society. This is the strong message from female athletes of the University of the Free State (UFS) in a month where the focus will be on women. As South Africa commemorates Women’s Day on 9 August 2020, the UFS shines a spotlight on women, calling on all South Africans to challenge, fight, and eradicate all forms of gender-based violence.

Speaking out against GBV, UFS sport stars Sne Mdletshe, Lynique Beneke, Shindré-Lee Simmons, Kesa Molotsane, Casey-Jean Botha, Lefébre Rademan, and Noxolo Magudu have partnered with KovsieSport in condemning any form of violence against women. They added their voices to a video campaign aimed at raising awareness of violence against women. The campaign involves athletes, coaches, administrators, and alumni, and consists of a series of videos that will be featured on UFS platforms.

Increasing impact

Mdletshe, Kovsies’ netball captain, is one of the sports stars featured in the first video of the series. She says it is crucial to address GBV. “We need to tackle it head on, because we cannot carry on like this.”

UFS Olympic long jumper, Lynique Beneke, says GBV needs attention, as it will only get worse if not addressed seriously. “This has been breeding for decades, where it’s acceptable or often justified.

_{Kovsie long jumper, Lynique Beneke, is in the South African}_{Olympic squad and
will be in contention to take part in her}_{second Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.}
_Photo:_{Hannes Naude}

Shindré-Lee Simmons, Kovsies’ women’s hockey captain, says it is important to be frank about GBV in South Africa, “as its prevalence has had an increasing impact on families and the country”

Influence of sport

Godfrey Tenoff, Head of the KovsieSport GBV campaign, says the video campaign will be a continuous project for Kovsiesport, as GBV is a threat to everyone, including UFS sportsmen and sportswomen. “This is specifically crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sport will be an integral part of our strategy to highlight and eventually eradicate gender-based violence."

Unique platform

Simmons says it is crucial for sports stars to use the platform they have to address the issue and educate others.

“We as athletes have the platform to speak up and people will listen,” says Mdletshe.

_{Sne Mdletshe, KovsieSport Junior Sportswoman of 2019, was}_{appointed captain of the
Kovsies netball team in 2020. S}_{he is also the captain of the Baby Proteas.}
_{Photo: Varsity Sports}

According to Beneke, sport can promote change. “We are uniquely positioned to support and model healthy relationships, values, and norms that can reduce and end gender-based violence.

Watch the first video, called ‘Enough’, as part of the KovsieSport campaign against GBV.

News Archive

Ivory Coast too dependent on UN to combat violence against women

2015-10-08

During the seminar presented by the Centre for
African Studies (CAS) at the University of the Free State
were, from the left: Thesipo Machabaphala, student in
Gender Studies; Prof Heidi Hudson, Head of CAS;
Dr Peace Medie from the University of Ghana,
guest speaker; and Sesi Mahlobogoane, student in
Gender Studies.

The Ivory Coast is still too dependent on the work of the United Nations (UN) to combat violence against women in the country. There is much talk about ways to address the problem, but the government is still not acting quickly and effectively enough to make a difference in the long term.

These were some of the findings by Dr Peace Medie from the University of Ghana, guest speaker during a seminar series held by the Centre for Africa Studies (CAS) on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State on 1 October 2015.

Dr Medie presented a seminar for students in the Gender Studies programme entitled Women, Security, and Justice: a Study of the Ivorian State’s Response to Violence against Women. Prof Heidi Hudson, Head of CAS in the Faculty of the Humanities at the UFS, facilitated the seminar.

For the sake of internationalisation, the CAS often presents guest speakers from outside South Africa to address its students. In addition , Dr Medie is from Africa.

According to Dr Medie, who conducted some 150 interviews during her research over two years, there was a shortage of resources in the Ivory Coast. This is also the case in several other African countries previously involved in war.

She believes the Ivory Coast should do more to combat violence against women successfully.

She said the UN had a great influence on the way people, especially the police, were thinking about the problem - which included sexual violence against women.

“The UN will not be there forever,” Dr Medie said.

“If response depended only on the influence of an international organisation, what would happen when the UN leaves?”

According to Dr Medie, a shortage of active women’s organisations also had a role to play. She was of the opinion that these organisations should put more pressure on the government to ensure better treatment for women.

“Local organisations are needed because it is not sustainable to depend only on the work of the UN.”

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