Police, metro talk to TUT students about GBV
“GBV is a pattern. This doesn’t just happen once,” social worker told the students.
The TUT House Committee, Pretoria West SAPS, and the Tshwane metro, among others, recently held an engagement at the TUT Heights Res in Philip Nel Park addressing GBV and mental wellness.
They discussed some of the most pressing issues about GBV at university and reminded the students that to combat GBV, everyone, men and women need to take a stand and get involved.
“GBV is a pattern,” social worker Maria Kabini of the Department of Social Services told the students.
“This doesn’t just happen once, we know this. We’ve experienced personal relationships where we see a pattern of either financial, physical, physiological or any other type of abuse and you know in your heart that this is wrong but turn a blind eye,” Kabini stated.
The students were educated on the different types of GBV (direct and indirect) and reminded that they are not alone, they have people who are willing to fight beside them while firmly holding their hand.
Health workers were invited to come to give attendees free seminars, and a range of games and activities were played during the proceedings.
Kabini encouraged the students to use the resources at their disposal regarding GBV and to not sit silently or ignore domestic violence.
“We are not making up these things. All the information presented is in the Domestic Violence Act 1106 of 2008 as amended as a framework for eradicating GBV but ask yourself, are you using it?” Kabini continued.
Sergeant Masilela, of the SAPS social crime prevention team, addressed attendees on the dangers of not reporting GBV and gave tips on opening a case or filing a protection order with the police.
Students were also warned about house breakings and cautioned to travel in groups amid ongoing street robberies.
Part of the mental well-being talks involved speakers emphasising the importance of developing confidence skills to remind students that life is worth living and to keep going even when “the going gets tough”.
The stakeholders involved were pleased with the initiative and believe that addressing GBV in this manner, breaking the silence serves as a means to destroy it completely.
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