Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is strengthening efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV) by connecting students, staff and surrounding communities with support services, as the university seeks to address the root causes of abuse and improve access to assistance.
The university recently hosted its annual GBV awareness and support campaign, bringing together government departments, civil society organisations and support services to educate attendees about GBV, its underlying causes, prevention and available interventions.
The initiative recognises that, despite growing awareness of GBV in South Africa, many cases remain unreported or unaddressed because people lack information about where to seek help. By bringing external organisations directly to campus, SMU aims to bridge this gap and extend access to assistance beyond the university community.
Participating organisations included the Commission for Gender Equality, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Justice, Gentlemen’s Legacy Alliance, SANCA and the GBV Command Centre.
Busisiwe Mbanjwa, SMU’s manager for the GBV Unit, said the campaign was designed to ensure that people could be referred to appropriate services when their needs fell outside the university’s mandate. “All these stakeholders, as much as they are not SMU stakeholders, are busy in their own organisation standing against GBV, ensuring social justice as well,” Mbanjwa said.
She explained that, although the university’s internal services primarily support students and staff, abuse and violence also affect people in surrounding communities. Establishing connections with external organisations enables the university to direct individuals to services equipped to assist them. “If we don’t address the root causes, we will forever fight GBV. GBV, I always say, is a reaction from something that is brewing inside,” she said, emphasising the importance of understanding the circumstances that contribute to violence.
Students also highlighted the campaign’s importance in confronting a problem that affects society regardless of educational background. Lungile Khanyile, a medicine student at SMU, said the scale of violence against women and the impact of abuse on healthcare services demonstrated the urgency of sustained intervention. Khanyile added that educated young people had a responsibility to promote awareness and share information with their families and home communities.
Representing the National Department of Social Development, Carol Tladi, manager of the GBV Command Centre, outlined the national support available to victims and survivors. She explained that the centre operates as a telephone-based counselling and referral service, not a walk-in facility. “If anyone is experiencing GBV or any kind of abuse of your human rights, you can call the command centre. We will either give you counselling over the phone, and then we can also link you with other services that can help you within your community where you are,” Tladi said.
She urged people experiencing abuse to seek assistance rather than endure their circumstances without support. “People don’t have to struggle. People don’t have to suffer in silence,” she said.
The campaign underscored that addressing GBV requires coordinated action across institutions, communities and support networks. By facilitating direct engagement with service providers, SMU is helping improve awareness of available resources and strengthen referral pathways for those who need assistance.
Through its commitment to education, community engagement and social justice, the university continues to contribute to efforts to build safer, more informed communities and ensure that access to support extends beyond campus boundaries.
By Gabisile Sibeko
