MINISTER NZIMANDE IS SADDENED AND CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF NTOKOZO XABA – A TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY STUDENT
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande is saddened and strongly condemns the killing of Ntokozo Xaba, a Tshwane University of Technology third-year student doing a National Diploma in Integrated Communication programme.
Xaba has been killed in what appears to be a Gender Based Violence crime.
Minister Nzimande passes his condolences to the Xaba family, friend and the entire Tshwane University of Technology.
Minister Nzimande is however pleased by the swift response of the law enforcement agencies who have taken a suspected man for questioning regarding Xaba’s untimely death.
The Minister has directed Higher Health to join in efforts with the Tshwane University of Technology wellness team to provide the necessary phyco-social support to the family.
Minister Nzimande said that Gender-based violence (GBV) or violence against women and girls (VAWG), is a global pandemic that affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime.
The Minister said these numbers are staggering with global figures indicating that as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner, 35% of women worldwide experiencing physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.
“This issue is not only devastating for survivors of violence and their families, but also entails significant social and economic costs and has dire implication to the post school education and training sector,” said Minister Nzimande.
“As part of dealing with gender-based violence in our institutions, I will be launching the “Transforming MENtalities Initiative,” which will be a multistakeholder partnership within the PSET, with a particular focus on mobilising men in our sector to be part of championing a world free of gender biases, stereotypes, violence and discrimination,” said Minister Nzimande.
“All our institutions working with HIGHER HEALTH must continue to work collectively in implementing programmes towards addressing the challenges of sexual and gender based violence within our PSET system. This includes ensuring the provision of safe workplaces, learning spaces and residences for all staff and students in our institutions,” said Minister Nzimande.
Minister Nzimande said that HIGHER HEALTH must also ensure that all institutions work collaboratively with the established multi sectoral PSET gender- based violence technical Task team chaired by Professor LenkaBula, to ensure the effective implementation of the DHET Gender Policy Framework.
Minister Nzimande will be soon releasing the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) report on sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the university sector. This MTT was chaired by Professor Sibongile Muthwa and the report of the MTT was submitted to me for consideration.
