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28 November 2022 | Story Gerda-Marié van Rooyen | Photo Supplied
Antjie Krog
Prof Antjie Krog, author, UFS aumna, and Extraordinary Professor at the University of the Western Cape, discussed the complexities of narratives when it comes to reporting sexual abuse during an International Hybrid Conference hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) and the War Museum.
During an International Hybrid Conference hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) and the War Museum, representatives from various universities gathered in Bloemfontein to discuss the complexities of reporting sexual abuse. The conference, themed ‘The Unsung Heroines and Youth of South Africa – Violent Histories and Experiences of South African Women and Children during Wars, Conflicts and Pandemics’ – a collaboration between the UFS Centre for Gender and Africa Studies and the War Museum – gave voice to the urgent need to rewrite the current narrative relating to gender-based violence (GBV). 

Prof Antjie Krog, renowned author and a UFS alumna, delivered a keynote address on Thursday 24 November 2022. She linked the past, referring to the South African War, with the present rate of GBV – with South Africa having the highest rate of abuse against women and children in the world. Prof Krog was the first speaker and deliver an address titled Survival, Complicity and Race: (Im)possibilities of Narrating and Interpreting Rape in Havenga Affidavits.

Prof Krog referred to 24 affidavits relating to rape and sexual assault in the Kroonstad-Heilbron-Lindley-triangle in the Free State during the South African War (1899-1902). These affidavits formed part of the previously embargoed Havenga collection. 

Based on these documents, it is evident that fellow citizens – regardless of ethnicity – joined forces with the enemy. Boys were indoctrinated to believe that they would become men once they torched houses and scorned women. British officials allegedly told these boys: “Do with the women whatever you want.” 

Shaming and silence

Phrasing in the affidavits often differed because of incoherent vocabulary, Prof Krog said. Women would, for example, state: “not achieved his goal” or “applied all attempts”, masking the true events of sexual assault. Talking about abuse in front of male officials, and sometimes even in front of their husbands, as they had to sign their wives' statements to authenticate it, complicated things. 


“People today still struggle to talk about rape without it influencing their integrity.” She referred to the brief moments of decision-making before an assault that haunts victims forever, making them believe they had a choice and thus making them feel responsible for rape and preventing them from reporting sexual abuse. Furthermore, the possibility of abused females disgracing their husbands and families (as rape was not seen as an act against a woman’s body, but against the honour of her husband or father) and, as in the case of the South Africa War, the need for reconciliation outweighed justice, and acts of GBV were silenced. 

Other academics on GBV

Prof Heidi Hudson, Dean of the Faculty of the Humanities at the UFS, delivered her keynote address on Friday 25 November 2022. Prof Hudson, a specialist in feminist security studies, spoke on the theme of Disciplinary and other stories: From women’s peace movements to the Women, Peace, and Security ecosystem. 

On the same day, Dr Marietjie Oelofse, Senior Lecturer in the UFS Department of History, also referred to victims’ voices being muted during her presentation titled Silent and Silenced: Factors prohibiting women from having a choice after experiencing Human Rights Violations. 

Dr Mpho Maripane-Manaka, a Lecturer at Unisa, was the last speaker at the conference, sharing her research on The amnesia on the commemoration of black African woman in the South African war.

The conference came to an end with a visit to the art exhibition Unsung Heroes at the Oliewenhuis Art Museum on Friday, and a tour of Bloemfontein on Saturday 26 November 2022.

News Archive

Exciting open day and Albert Einstein program at Boyden Observatory
2005-05-06

National Science Week, which will be held from 7-14 May 2005, is an annual country-wide celebration of science, led by the Department of Science and Technology.  The department selected a proposal by the Boyden Science Centre to coordinate a week of activities in the Bloemfontein area as one of the many projects in the country.

The project for Bloemfontein and surrounding areas will be delivered though a collaboration between the National Museum in Bloemfontein and the University of the Free State (UFS), including the Research Institute for Education Planning, the Department of Physics and other departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The purpose of National Science Week is:

to create awareness of the important role that science play in people’s daily lives;
to encourage our youth to consider studying and improving their performance in mathematics and science; and
to attract more of our youth into science, engineering and technology (SET) careers.

 

World Year of Physics and Albert Einstein Program at Boyden Observatory

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) declared the year 2005 as the World Year of Physics (WYP). In recognition of this declaration, the great contribution of Physics to the development of technology, and its importance in our everyday lives will be featured strongly during the National Science Week 2005.

On Saturday 7 May 2005 there will be a public programme at Boyden Observatory from 15:30 as a contribution to the World Year of Physics. The programme will be presented in collaboration with the Bloemfontein branch of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa and will include short presentations on astronomy, space exploration and the sun.

The main presentation will be at 19:00 the evening on the life and work of Albert Einstein. The programme will also include observing sessions through telescopes of objects like the sun, Jupiter and Saturn. There will also be an exhibit on Albert Einstein. Attendance is free but booking is required.  For bookings, phone 051-4012561.

Public lecture programme:

Next week the following exciting public lectures will be presented as part of the Science Week activities:

Monday 9 May 2005 

National Museum:

A discussion on Apocalypse Then: the greatest mass extinction of all time.  The lecture will be presented by Dr Jennifer Botha, Paleontologist at the National Museum.
Bookings: 051-4479609 (entrance is free).

UFS campus:

All lectures at Kine 2, Medical Faculty, UFS campus. Follow directions from the DF Malherbe Road entrance.
Bookings: 051-4012561 (entrance is free).

Tuesday 10 May 2005:

A discussion on the Tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Wednesday 11 May 2005:

A discussion on Is there life out there? at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Friday 13 May 2005:

A discussion on Hunting Black Holes at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).  The lecture will be presented by Dr Phil Charles, Director: South African Astronomical Observatory.

Science awareness day at the National museum

The science week will be concluded on Saturday 14 May 2005 with a special Science Awareness Day at the National Museum, Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein. 

The excellent exhibits at the museum will be supplemented with activities, career information and video shows. The duration of the programme will be from 10:00-16:00.  For enquiries, please call 051-4479609.

 

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel:  (051) 401-2584
   Cell:  083 645 2454
   E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

6 May 2005
 

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