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Gender-based violence: ‘we can make a difference if we work together’

03 December 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Tsamayang_web read more — Tsamayang Sethunsa says women needs to be taught that they must be firm when they say no.

“Gender-based violence is everyone’s responsibility and I believe it can be reduced if we all work together, says Tsamayang Sethunsa, Crime Investigating Officer at Protection Services.

Although he considers this a difficult battle to win, there are some actions that we can take to start fighting this evil in society.

Enhance awareness campaigns

“We must continue to enhance our awareness campaigns throughout the year and not restrict it to the short period of time during the 16 Days of Activism against violence to women and children campaign. Awareness campaigns need to run on a regular basis and must become part of our daily lives.”

He adds that we need to be proactive. “In this regard, I am a firm supporter of ongoing research to enable advocacy groups, investigators, victims, and perpetrators to understand what we are dealing with and to come up with mitigation plans that will address the problem at its roots,” he says.

“I also believe a focus on the victim is a good beginning, but we do not need to forget about the perpetrator, as that is where the problem is. We need to conduct specific research where perpetrators are interviewed and assessed as to understand what made the person commit the crime. You do not wake up in the morning and decide to hurt or kill someone you are supposed to love. There must be a trigger and we need to address it through ongoing engagement with men as the common perpetrator in these crimes.”

It is all right to cry and to let the pain out

“It is also important that men are taught to speak out about challenges they face on a daily basis. Tell them it is all right to cry and to let the pain out instead of keeping things in, resulting in violent outbursts,” he adds.

Tsamayang is also of the opinion that there is a need to revisit the rehabilitation methods of correctional service centres and to determine if these methods are working.

He says the issue of repeat offenders is also a growing concern for him as an investigator.

Furthermore, he is convinced that young children need to be taught about gender-based violence from an early age. “Women also need to be taught that they must be firm when they say no, and to report any criminal activity immediately when it happens. They must also learn to protect themselves,” he says.

News Archive

UFS SIFE is the best in SA!

2004-07-09

The SIFE team celebrates their victory with Jack Shewmaker, founder of SIFE in 1975 and past-president of Walmart in the USA, and Moses Kgosana, Chairman of KPMG SA.

The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team of the University of the Free State competed in the National SIFE championships on Thursday, June 17, 2004 at Ceasar’s Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Strong competition was experienced from the other ten participant SA universities, e.g. the Universities of the Western Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Cape Town and RAU, but die UFS SIFE team retained the national championship for the third year running.

The team will now represent South Africa and the University of the Free State in Barcelona, Spain at die SIFE World Cup. The competition will be held from 22 to 24 September 2004.

The presentation team members for the competition were Tsholofelo Tlhomelang, Imameleng Matete, Kenneth Lefa, Kabelo Lephaka, Nadia van Staden, Tshepo Mahloko (Multi-Media), Werner Schmidt (Faculty Advisor). Supporting the presentation team were Lineo Peete, Keketso Ntene, Ruth Morienyane, Motaung Mathaba, Tshireletso Seekoe, Peter Letsoalo, Obakeng Msuthwana, Tshepiso Lebentle, JC Langeveldt and Michelle Stanley.

SIFE is a world-wide non-profit organisation with the express aim of encouraging students to spread their business knowledge - gained in the classroom - to the community, to promote and expand the principles of free enterprise.( www.sife.org )

The criteria by which SIFE-projects are measured are the following:

• How free markets work in the global economy.
• How entrepreneurs succeed by identifying a market need and then profitably producing and marketing a product or service to fill that need.
• The personal entrepreneurial, communications, technology and financial management skills needed to successfully compete.
• Practicing business in an ethical and socially responsible manner that supports the principles of a market economy.
• Measuring the results of projects, utilizing mass media and the Internet, involving non-business majors and utilizing a Business Advisory Board, communicating the program through a written report and verbal presentation.

The UFS’ SIFE-team’s presentation complied with all the above mentioned criteria. SIFE UFS’ education drive stretched from primary school learners, to adults who had been working for thirty years – this diverse group was taught about the free market system and its value in the global village. Business ethics and basic business principles were communicated in a fun and interactive way to learners. High-level business advice was given to entrepreneurs who started new projects, e.g. a brick-maker, and marketing advice were given to existing businesses in need of expansion.

If you are interested in helping SIFE UFS achieve its goals, e-mail Werner Schmidt at
schmidtw.ekw@mail.uovs.ac.za or phone him at 051 – 401 3376.

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