By Maleruo Leponesa and Luvuyo Mjekula
Schools are meant to be places of safety, where parents send their children to get an education and not be raped. These were the words of Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube in Makhanda this week.
Gwarube was addressing learners, educators and guests at the annual Uyinene Mrwetyana Memorial Lecture at Kingswood College on Monday. The minister went on to reflect on a “heavy week” of children who have been sexually assaulted in their schools, by adults who are meant to protect them.
“This week I learnt of a young child – Cwecwe from eMatatiele – not too far from here. This child was brutally violated and her perpetrators are yet to be found and prosecuted.”
She said although the case is receiving attention from the provincial government and the South African Police Service at a national level, the interventions come once “unimaginable harm” has been created.
“Justice must be served. Yes. But more must be done to rid our schools of sexual predators,” the minister said.
She placed some of the blame for the gender-based violence (GBV) scourge in the country on the government’s shoulders. Gwarube said the government failed Uyinene as it fails women and young children every day.
“Uyinene was to all of us, a call to action – a moment to reflect on the unacceptably high levels of violence against women and children in our country and a moment to acknowledge that government failed her as it fails countless women and young children on a daily basis.”
Gwarube said Uyinene’s tragic death was not just an isolated act of violence. “It was a painful reminder of the war being waged against women in this country every single day. South Africa has among the highest femicide rates in the world.
“Too many young women never get to walk across the graduation stage, enter the workplace, or pursue their dreams – not because they are not capable, but because their lives are stolen from them by men who feel they have a right to their bodies and indeed to their lives.”
Gwarube said the death of Uyinene and many other women like her, represented the lived reality of too many South African women.
“Women who fear walking home alone. Women who enter public spaces with their hearts racing, wondering if they will make it home safely. Women who are forced to modify their behaviour – not because they are doing anything wrong, but because the world around them has told them that their safety is a privilege, not a right. Women who must change how they dress because they are told they provoke men to rape them.”
She highlighted the potential women and girls have compared to their male counterparts, making an example of the recent matric results where the top achievers were mostly girls.
The theme of the commemorative lecture was “Reimagining safety: developing the boy child as a catalyst for change”, and Gwarube called on boys and young men to be part of the conversation to end GBV.
She implored them to start the change and say “not under my watch”. They should not witness even what could be considered the slightest discomfort that could make a woman, a girl or a child to feel unsafe. “Today is the time to include the boy child in our everyday conversations.”
The minister expressed her trust in the schoolboys at Kingswood, stating that she believed in them and saw in them people who can be protective of girls and children.
Noma Mrwetyana, Fundiswa Saffa, Thobeka Msengana and Mabhele Mrwetyana. Photo: Dideka NjemlaShe thanked the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation and partners who work together to preserve Uyinene’s memory, ensuring that although she was taken early, her memory continues to reverberate through the space and time.
Talking to Uyinene’s parents and siblings, Gwarube became emotional: “There can never be words that can truly comfort you or fill the void that has been left by her death.”
Uyinene’s mother, Nomangwane Mrwetyana, in a shattered voice, remarked: “As mothers who bear these kids, we are really not okay.”
She thanked Kingswood College for keeping the memory of Uyinene alive.
Mrs Mrwetyana offered the family of “Cwecwe” free counselling courtesy of psychologists at the foundation.
Some of the learners who attended the lecture were given the opportunity to quiz the minister on various topics. One learner asked Gwarube about the ratio of teachers to learners. The minister acknowledged that the government is aware of the challenge and wishes to employ more to teachers to fill the gap, but the department faces budgetary constraints.
Grocott’s Mail spoke to some of the learners. Kingswood College prefect, Awande Vandile, said the lecture and the minister’s speech opened his eyes. “As a boy child I now know that no girl shall be harassed under my watch. I have full responsibility to protect her by all means, regardless of her body size or any other thing, girls must be protected,” Awande said. Mihlali Ntantala said it was important to change even the conversations they have as boys concerning girls.
They accepted the minister’s challenge and feel obliged to protect girls at all costs.
Gwarube announced that she intended to work closely with Justice and Constitutional Development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi in pursuit of amending current legislation to ensure that every person who works with children is properly vetted.
