Nuggets of Wisdom for Female Students During Indaba

An indaba held for female students at the King Bhekuzulu Hall on Friday, 7 October 2022 saw attendees being reminded about self-worth, the benefits of setting high academic goals and the essence of exploiting the varied support services available to them on the KwaDlangezwa and Richards Bay campuses.

The function was organised by the Pastoral Care Unit together with the Transformation and Social Inclusion Office, supported by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Professor Vuyokazi Nomlomo. It was intended to be a platform where female students would be provided with knowledge and skills to help them better navigate their way through university life. The discussion points ranged from physical and sexual assault to mental health and transactional sex. Students were also enlightened about the services provided and roles played by the Protective Services Department, Campus Health Clinic, Student Housing, Pastoral Care Unit as well as Guidance and Counselling.

Professor Sithabile Ntombela, Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Sister Hlengiwe Zulu, who heads the Campus Health Clinic, spoke emphatically about values. “You must know your worth; you are valued. Know your rights. Do not allow yourself to be violated. Know your goals [for without them] you have no destination,” Prof Ntombela pointed out.  

Sister Zulu reminded the young women that they only have one life to live and that the ouns lies with them to protect their lives. She also cautioned them against engaging in unprotected sex as a result of being influenced by peers and other forces.

Touching on the topic of oppression, Prof Ntombela said, “Sometimes oppression comes from external forces like gender-based violence, like patriarchy – when as women we are told ‘you can’t go to school until your brothers have finished school’. The most scary oppression is the oppression that comes from within us. When we have internalised feelings of inferiority and worthlessness, it’s very difficult for us to shake them off and I hope that such seminars can assist you to shake those things so that we can be free from within.”

In her presentation, Prof Nomlomo came with hard-hitting facts, sharing rape, gender-based violence and gender inequality statistics indicated in the 2019/20 crime report. The report states that a third of women in South Africa have experienced some form of violence (being it sexual, physical, psychological or economic). It also highlights that more than 42 000 cases of rape were recorded in the reporting period, which translates to 115 cases per day.

“It is my belief that some of us in this room have experienced some form of abuse or GBV. As UNIZULU, we created this space- that is this seminar- to talk openly about how to engage with gender-based violence matters on our campus, as young women. It is also a gesture of our deep care about victims of abuse and GBV and it is also an attempt, as a university, to take a stand on how to prevent it from occurring in the first place,” Prof Nomlomo shared. In her view, gender equality issues, including GBV, must be infused in the university curriculum, not only to create awareness of gender inequality, but also to create a GBV-free and conducive teaching and learning spaces for student success and sustainable development.

Throughout the seminar, the common message was that of setting goals. Sinethemba Dlomo, a third-year BSc in Geography and Hydrology student who shared some of her lived experiences as a female student on campus, told her peers not to lose sight of their long-term goals. “Associations are key. You can’t associate yourself with people who do not have the same aspirations as you,” she cautioned.

Prof Jabulani Thwala left the attendees with a profound message, likening education to a fruit tree. He encouraged the students to climb the figurative ladder to be able to pick the best fruit as opposed to simply standing under the tree and reaching out only for the low-hanging fruit.   

– Naledi Hlefane

Caption

The Pastoral Care Unit together with the Transformation and Social Inclusion Office, supported by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, held a indaba for female students at the King Bhekuzulu Hall on Friday, 7 October 2022. A hearty discussion ensued once the question-and-answer session began.

Picture: James Thwala