Tshwane University of Technology Student at the march. Image credit: Avumile Seela.
(The Post News) –Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) students held a peaceful march at the Pretoria West campus. They protested against gender-based violence (GBV). Students also fight the ongoing abuse and murder of women across South Africa.
The demonstration, organized by student leaders in partnership with advocacy movements like Women for Change. They aimed to draw national attention to what participants described as a “state of emergency” affecting women and vulnerable groups.
The march included chants. It also had moments of silence held in honor of victims whose lives were cut short by violence. Organizers said the event was not only about raising awareness but also about demanding meaningful and urgent interventions. They emphasized that GBV is no longer an isolated or occasional tragedy. It is a daily reality that continues to traumatize communities, destroy families. It also place immense strain on the country’s social and justice systems.
“The political masses will continue to fight against Gender based violance at all angles. No student should be victimized by parasites in an environment that is meant to be safe”, said TUT Faculty of Engineering Chairperson, Thabang Lepitse
In recent years, South Africa has seen a surge in public uproar over violent crimes targeting women. The surge includes high-profile cases that have sparked nationwide protests. Activist groups like Women for Change have repeatedly highlighted the continuous rise in domestic violence, sexual assaults and femicide. These organizations often point to systemic gaps in protection, policing and prosecution. These failures, students argued, create an environment where perpetrators feel emboldened, while victims stay fearful and unsupported.
“TUT says no to Gender Based Violence”, TUT wrote on their social platforms.
Student speakers called for strengthened campus safety measures, improved reporting platforms and professional psychological support services for survivors. They urged TUT management to adopt more proactive strategies, ranging from awareness campaigns.Introduce self-defense campaigns to stricter disciplinary responses when complaints are filed. Students stressed that campuses should be safe learning spaces, not environments where women feel vulnerable or unheard.
Beyond the university gates, the demonstration also touched on the broader national crisis. GBV and femicide have long been described as South Africa’s “second pandemic,” with widespread social and economic impacts. Families who lose breadwinners or caregivers often face long-term financial hardship. Communities experience trauma that can take generations to heal. The justice system is already stretched by high crime levels. It faces pressure to handle an increasing number of GBV-related cases. Many of these cases stay unresolved.
The costs of GBV, including medical care, legal processes, shelter support, lost income, and long-term psychological treatment. This places a heavy burden on both the state and the private sector. These expenses affect public resources and disrupt economic and social stability.At the same time, high rates of violence erode public trust in institutions meant to make sure safety and justice. Students at the march argued that the rising cases of GBV undermine national development. They said it destabilizes communities and threatens the well-being of future generations.
Organizers reaffirmed their commitment to working with relavant stakeholder to keep pressure for reform. They emphasized that real change requires collective effort. It also demands long-term investment. Additionally, a national shift in attitudes toward women’s rights and safety is necessary. Students highlighted the importance of holding authorities accountable and ensuring that victims get proper support. They also called on the wider community to join the movement and raise awareness about GBV. For TUT students, the march is the beginning of a broader campaign. This campaign seeks protection, justice, and equality for all women in South Africa.
GBV & Murders Stats in South Africa:
- Between April 2020 and March 2024, 198,176 cases of abuse by intimate or domestic partners were reported to SAPS.
- A 2024 HSRC report found that from July to September that year, 957 women were murdered, 1,567 survived attempted murder, and 14,366 were assaulted.
- Research from the SAMRC shows that 60% of women murdered in South Africa are killed by an intimate partner.
- South Africa’s intimate-partner femicide rate is about 5.5 per 100,000 women, far higher than the global average of around 1.1 per 100,000.
- The conviction rate for intimate partner femicide in 2022/23 was 62.2%, with 356 convictions out of 386 cases.
- Long-term research shows intimate-partner femicide declined from 8.8 per 100,000 women in 1999 to 4.8 per 100,000, but still averages about three women killed per day by a partner.
- A recent SAPS quarterly analysis shows 961 women were murdered in a three-month period in 2024, which equals roughly 11 women killed every day in the country.
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