Esayidi TVET College students in Gamalakhe were educated about the importance of voting in the upcoming local government elections.

Also, popular Maskandi artists such as Limit, Nkeshembe and Jumbo entertained the students at the college recently.

South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association national president, Kgaogelo Chokoe, said most youth in the country do not vote and the aim is to visit every college to encourage them to vote.

Chokoe said it is important for the youth to practise their democratic right (voting).

The students were also encouraged to raise their voices against gender-based violence (GBV).

“GBV has become a pandemic and that is because people are sitting in silence. I think that when we teach our students about such issues and the importance of ubuntu, they can go back to their communities to educate others and create safe spaces,” said Chokoe.

She added that the programme started in the Free State and it will be rolled out in all nine provinces.
Assistant director for student support at the college, Xoli Migochi ,said this programme, especially the GBV issue, has seen students reporting cases.

She said in some cases men have reported abuse. “Men are still scared to report cases of rape and abuse, but through dialogues things are changing steadily.”

According to Migochi, the college has liaison officers to whom students can report issues in confidentiality to get the help they need from relevant organisations.

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