GBV gets a definite Red Card at TUT’s eMalahleni Campus

by Amanda van Rensburg

15 November 2022

The Directorate of Sport and Recreation, eMalahleni Campus, together with the Ladies Football Team, joined the national voice against Gender-Based Violence yesterday, 14 November 2022, with the launch of a Red Card for Gender Based Violence Campaign at the Campus.

The Ladies Football Team, eMalahleni Campus giving GBV a red card within the communities they study, live and play.

The RED CARD for GBV Campaign aims to create awareness about the scourge of violence that affect women and children in the community. The initiative comes only a few days ahead of the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism against women and children abuse. SAFA and PSL referee, Tshepo Maila and representatives from SAPS eMalahleni attended the launch of the campaign, which is also supported by Student Development and Support (SDS), the campus rugby team and Library and Information Services.

Maila encouraged young people and students to report all forms of gender-based violence to the South African Police Services. “Gender based violence happens all around us, countrywide, every day and it affects our youth particularly negatively. I want to encourage the youth and our community at large, to open up, speak up and report all incidences of GBV that you become aware of - report them to the nearest police station immediately. As referees, we carry red cards and hand them out on the football field. Although we do not have the authority to act against GBV perpetrators, we can speak about them, report them and assist the SAPS  to intervene and act against all forms of gender-based violence. We must do everything we can to bring an end to this terrible, violent crime against women and children," he said.

The Campus Rugby team also showed solidarity in raising their voices against the scourge of GBV in society with their own red cards.