First TUT Gender Desk established on Arts Campus

by Irene Botes


28 July 2022

Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) is on the rise in South Africa, yet it is rarely discussed. It is also no secret that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a pandemic in higher education, and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is regrettably not an exception. Due to this, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) developed a GBV-framework using recommendations from Higher Health, which among other things resulted in the opening of the GBV Desk at the Faculty of Arts and Design.

Ms Manoko Mogoroga, a psychologist with specialised expertise and experience in the field of GBV, will assist students at the new GBV Desk on the Arts Campus.

According to Prof Nalini Moodley-Diar, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, "TUT, as a progressive institution, wants to ensure that our students and staff have the opportunity to receive advice and counselling in a safe space where they can talk about GBV-related experiences, whether physical, emotional or psychological, with a qualified psychologist.

"For this reason, we have the honour of welcoming Ms Manoko Mogoroga, a psychologist with specialised expertise and experience in the field of GBV, to the Faculty of Arts and Design,” says Prof Moodley-Diar. 

On Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00, Ms Mogoroga will be available on campus in the brand-new Health and Wellness Centre. 

"While we recognise that three hours a week might not be sufficient to satisfy this requirement, as the demand develops, we might have to reassess this arrangement,” Prof Moodley-Diar adds.

She goes on to explain that the opening of the People's University's first Gender Desk shows how seriously the Faculty of Arts and Design considers issues related to sexual harassment, violence and femicide and that it will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against such behaviour.

All students at the Pretoria campuses will also have access to the service. It serves as a test run for the inclusion of more Gender Desks on the various TUT campuses.

"Students are invited to take advantage of this platform to receive expert advice about any GBVF-related experiences they might have. To understand and make sense of these experiences, talk to someone you can trust and who will provide expert guidance in your time of need,” says Prof Moodley-Diar.

“With a clinic that will have a permanent sister on duty and a doctor two days a week, the new Health and Wellness Centre on campus, which serves both the Arts and Arcadia campuses, is something we are very excited about. Our dedicated Student Development and Support representative will also be based at the Centre, along with the GBV Desk, which will serve the TUT community in Pretoria. Executive Management, the Directorate: Health and Wellness and Student Development and Support generously supported this project to make it feasible,” Prof Moodley-Diar concludes. 

Please do not hesitate to contact Ms Mogoroga at 012 382 6370 or email: Mogorogamw@tut.ac.za

Emergency numbers:  
Campus Protection Services (CPS):  012 382 4369

Trauma counselling, referrals and general mental support for employees 
TEED: Employee Health and Wellness: 012 382 5902/5435

Counselling, referrals and general mental health support for students
Student Development Support: 012 382 5076

TUT Health and Wellness Directorate, (Related health issues, e.g. rape)
Pretoria: 012 382 6612
eMalahleni: 013 655 3222
Ga-Rankuwa: 012 382 0572
Mbombela: 013 745 3591
Polokwane: 015 287 0706
Soshanguve: 012 382 9184

National Numbers:
GBV Command Centre:
0800 428 428 / *120*7867 from any cellphone SMS ‘help’ to 31531
South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop: 08600 10111/ SMS Crime Line: 32211
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): 0800 68 78 88
National AIDS Helpline: 0800 012 322
National Human Trafficking Helpline: 0800 222 777
Stop Gender Violence: 0800 150 150
Suicide Helpline: 0800 567 567

For more information on the Tshwane University of Technology, please contact Phaphama Tshisikhawe, Corporate Affairs and Marketing.
Tel: +27 12 382 4711 Email: tshisikhawerpt@tut.ac.za