Practitioner’s Perspectives on a National South African Higher Education Institution Policy Framework Mitigating Gender-Based Violence at a South African University

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a crime that violates the right to life, equality, human dignity, freedom and security of a person (South African Constitution, Act No 108 of 1996). The prevention and management of GBV is a critical transformation imperative and has in recent years (2014 to 2021) come under the spotlight at South African universities. The National Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) developed a policy framework to guide post-school education and training institutions to address GBV in 2020. This article is a practitioner’s assessment and reflection of how the DHET policy framework on GBV can be implemented at Stellenbosch University, a public higher education institution (HEI) in South Africa. We look at how to integrate recommendations made in the GBV policy framework at South African universities and what are the current constraints that throttle GBV interventions. We reflect on existing mechanisms and policy recommendations that still need to be operationalised to effectively respond to GBV at universities. This article further assesses how institutional policy development, professional administrative and support services, and senior leadership structures can be leveraged to include, and efficiently implement, some of the GBV policy framework recommendations to address GBV at HEIs and in South Africa more broadly.

Effects of gender-based violence on students’ well-being: A case of Mufulira College

“…In fact, Kwestel and Milano (2020) argue that out of every six cases of GBV, only one is reported and of all the reported cases, institutions of higher learning have not proactively dealt with them in an efficient and effective manner as expected. Brink et al (2021) and Nanthini & Nair (2020) have consistently indicated that most institutions of higher learning have demonstrated high levels of indifferences to cases of GBV on campus. This being the case, Htun and Jensenius (2020) have retaliated that because of the laxity and lack of action on the part of the institutions of higher learning to holistically deal with cases of GBV, the central government has been compelled to interfere in the handling the cases of GBV in the campus when in the actual sense it should have been the learning institutions themselves that should have eradicated these cases.…”

“…The findings of this study are consistent with other studies conducted elsewhere (Peterson & Ortiz 2016;Saha & Saha 2017;Kanan 2002). Nevertheless, it appears that despite recording high cases of GBV, the studies have continued to show that institutions of higher learning have struggled to deal with these cases (Brink et al 2021;Carmody 2020;Ford 2017;Htun & Jensenius 2020;WHO 2021). In fact, Kwestel and Milano (2020) argue that out of every six cases of GBV, only one is reported and of all the reported cases, institutions of higher learning have not proactively dealt with them in an efficient and effective manner as expected.…”