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29 September 2023 | Story Nicole Bongo | Photo Supplied
The UFS held a KovsieCares GBV activation to raise awareness around gender-based violence and inform students about available support systems.
The University of the Free State (UFS) held a KovsieCares GBV Activation at the Thakaneng Bridge on its Bloemfontein Campus on 22 September 2023, as part of the university’s Bsafe campaign against gender-based violence (GBV).

The event was held to inform students about the numerous resources and support systems provided by the UFS to stop GBV and provide support to those affected by it.


Gernus Terblanche, one of the event's organisers from the Division of Student Affairs, emphasised the importance of the initiative, saying, “The activation is mainly focused on the education [around] gender-based violence, and we invited all of the offices that deal with GBV of all sorts. The idea for the activation is to spread awareness and education, and also relay information about the resources available.”

Terblanche said that students are often unaware of the free resources at their disposal, and choose to suffer in silence. One of the aims for the event was to coach students in how to address GBV issues and where to seek assistance if needed.

Mojalefa Rabolinyane, Assistant Officer at the Student Counselling and Development (SCD) Office, highlighted the wealth of free resources available to students. "We have different programmes at SCD that cater specifically to students,” she said. “If a student comes to our office with a case of GBV, the first thing we do is ensure they talk to a mental-healthcare professional to provide emotional support. Secondly, we work closely with the Protection Services to make it easier for students to report cases and file charges."

The organisers said various factors contribute to the prevalence of GBV, including substance abuse, gender roles, and societal pressures. They reiterated that the University of the Free State maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence, and a comprehensive support system is offered to aid victims of the scourge, including those affected by rape, sexual assault, and mental and physical abuse. 

For more information, please visit the kovsieLife page here.

You can also contact Gernus Terblanche at TerblancheGIDP@ufs.ac.za.
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News Archive

UFS in forefront with ASGI-SA initiative
2006-05-10

At the conceptualisation colloquium and stakeholder dialogue were from the left Dr Aldo Stroebel (senior researcher at the UFS Research Development Directorate), Dr Edith Vries (acting Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Development Trust) and Prof Frans Swanepoel (Director: UFS Research Development Directorate).

UFS in forefront with ASGI-SA initiative

Two staff members of the University of the Free State (UFS) have been appointed as members of the advisory board of the national programme for the creation of small enterprises and jobs in the second economy.  This programme forms part of government’s Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGI-SA).

Prof Frans Swanepoel, Director of the UFS Research Development Directorate and Dr Aldo Stroebel, senior researcher at the UFS Research Development Directorate, are working with a team of experts from the UFS on a draft implementation strategy for the national programme.  Both Prof Swanepoel and Dr Stroebel are also associated to the UFS Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.
 
“The strategy is being developed in collaboration with institutions like the Independent Development Trust, the Department of Agriculture, the National Development Agency and the Department of Trade and Industry,” says Prof  Swanepoel.  

The other team members of the UFS are Prof Basie Wessels, Director of the  Mangaung-University Community Partnership Programme (MUCPP) and Mr  Benedict Mokoena, project manager at the MUCPP.

Dr Stroebel was also member of the organising committee of a conceptualisation colloquium and stakeholder dialogue that was recently presented in Johannesburg.  The conference was attended by more than 400 delegates from government departments, higher-education institutions and civil society, including Dr Kobus Laubscher, member of the UFS Council.

The conference was facilitated by Ms Vuyo Mahlati, previously from the WK Kellogg Foundation’s Africa programme and opened by Ms Thoko Didiza, Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs.   

“The colloquium formed the basis of an induction workshop during which a group of 150 individuals (50 teams of three) from all nine provinces, identified to initiate the implementation of the national programme, was trained and orientated towards an induction manual in collaboration with Hand-in-Hand, an Indian counterpart,” says Prof Swanepoel.

Dr Stroebel and Mr Benedict Mokoena formed part of the team to conceptualise and finalise this training manual.  The induction training includes a case study of a successful community self-help partnership model, namely the MUCPP at the UFS. Prof Wessels and Mr Mokoena are both playing a leading role in the further development of subsequent training initiatives throughout South Africa, in partnership with the relevant provincial departments.

“The involvement of the UFS in the programme is a compliment to us.  It reflects the value government sees in the use of academics and experts in the management of the ASGI-SA initiative.  It is also an indication of one of the aims of the UFS to play a role in South Africa and Africa and in the transformation and change that is taking place in our country,” says Prof Swanepoel.  

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
10 May 2006

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