Majuba TVET College successfully completed its End GBVF 100-Day Challenge Project. This initiative accelerated the College’s commitment to addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) across its five campuses. The project prioritized awareness, established formal support systems, and cultivated a necessary culture of unity and accountability. This report details the transformation achieved and outlines the strategies for lasting change.

Evidence of Impact: Measurable Results Achieved

The 100-Day Project delivered immediate, quantifiable results across key areas of intervention. Twenty-three GBVF-related reports were formally recorded, and all received appropriate intervention and follow-up. This indicates increased trust in the new reporting channels.

Through dialogues and events like “Isibaya samadoda” and “Ikhosomba labesifazane,” the College reached over 4,000 students and staff. Capacity building included training 127 peer educators and 52 staff members on prevention, survivor support, and referral systems. This collective effort ensured a positive impact on campus visibility and support.

Moments and Partnerships Driving Change

Progress was driven by key events and collaboration. A high-visibility GBVF March and Memorandum Handover to SAPS united staff, students, and external stakeholders. Men’s Roundtable discussions promoted accountability and positive masculinity, formalized through the Majuba Men’s Pledge Campaign. The College also launched Black Mondays and campus prayer sessions to foster empathy and healing.

Support pathways were strengthened through specific partnerships. The College formalized collaboration with the SAPS Family Violence Unit and the Thuthuzela Care Centre. These alliances were crucial for ensuring appropriate referral and follow-up for the 23 recorded GBVF reports. The project also formalized links with the Department of Social Development (DSD).

Ambitious Goals for Accountability

The College’s commitment to making reporting safer is evident in its campus goals. Campuses set clear targets to encourage disclosure and awareness beyond the 100 days.

• DTC and CPD Campuses set goals to increase awareness and empowerment reporting figures from current low bases to up to 500 individuals respectively.
• ITB and NTC Campuses aim to increase the number of reported GBVF cases from 4–5 to at least 12–15 per year.

These goals show the dedication to proactively inviting disclosure. Other goals focus on promoting a culture of support, eliminating stigma, and creating safe, inclusive environments for all students and staff.

Overcoming Hurdles and Fostering Innovation

The team navigated several operational hurdles. These included the pervasive stigma and fear of reporting among survivors. The team also dealt with limited resources for psychosocial support and budget constraints across various departments. Internal resistance from some departments was also a challenge. Strong leadership support and cross-departmental collaboration (HR, SSS, SRC) were vital conditions that enabled high team performance.

In response, the team introduced new ways of working. These included integrating GBVF awareness into the Student Orientation Programme and using QR codes for anonymous reporting. The team also initiated the Campus Wellbeing Ambassadors program, signalling a shift toward long-term wellness support.

The Path Forward: Sustaining Change

The project successfully built stronger trust between students and management. Going forward, the College will prioritize strengthening mental health and trauma counselling support. Prevention education will be extended to TVET accommodation and surrounding communities. Quarterly GBVF awareness and reflection sessions will be implemented to sustain momentum.

As reflected by Kareshma Sewsancaran, “The 100-Day Challenge reminded Majuba TVET College that silence is complicity. Through this journey, voices once quiet have become catalysts for change. The College stands united in its commitment to end GBVF and to ensure that every student and staff member is safe, valued, and heard.”