Majuba TVET College, with its eight campuses, has stepped up to this challenge by prioritising awareness, outreach, and system-level responses to GBVF  and related safety concerns. Their approach recognises that awareness alone is not enough. Outreach campaigns, dialogue sessions, and visibility of support services are foundational – but unless learners have safe, trusted mechanisms to report abuse, even the most well-meaning efforts can fall flat.

Why Awareness Matters

At the heart of any social issue is a culture – what is spoken about, what is normalised, and what is ignored. Awareness campaigns within TVET colleges play a key role in shifting this culture. Through peer-led discussions, workshops, theatre productions, and student dialogues, campuses have begun naming the issues students face. These activities help debunk myths, build solidarity, and clarify what kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

Importantly, they also create opportunities to speak about boundaries, consent, and safety in a language young people can relate to. As seen in Majuba TVET’s 2023 GBVF interventions, previous initiatives included wellness outreach events and awareness walks – vital entry points that opened space for students and staff to begin engaging on uncomfortable truths. Though this content reflects work from last year, it continues to inform the culture change efforts happening today.

Awareness Must Be Matched with Systems and Impact

Awareness alone doesn’t prevent harm or guarantee justice. What makes Majuba TVET’s current work noteworthy is its recognition that systems must follow conversations. Central to this is the implementation of anonymous reporting mechanisms that allow students to disclose cases without fear of retaliation or exposure. These tools are crucial in environments where power imbalances – between lecturers and students, or among peers can discourage formal reporting.

Anonymous reporting platforms not only empower survivors but also help campus-based task teams identify patterns and respond to emerging risks quickly. Instead of waiting for formal complaints to pile up, institutions can act on real-time insights. For example, if multiple anonymous reports highlight harassment hotspots, those areas can be prioritised for increased monitoring or intervention. Data gathered can also shape more targeted awareness efforts and guide campus safety planning.

Building Accountability Structures

Majuba TVET has also been working towards improving its internal response capacity. Campus-based GBVF task teams, often made up of wellness staff, peer mentors, and safety officers, are being trained to act swiftly and compassionately. Their success hinges on having access to reliable, confidential reports – something anonymous systems directly support.

Moreover, when learners see that reports lead to action – whether through counselling referrals, disciplinary measures, or improvements in campus infrastructure – it helps restore trust. Students begin to understand that their safety matters, and that their voices don’t disappear into the void.

From Silence to Solidarity

Breaking the silence is not just a slogan. It is a deliberate move towards shifting campus culture, investing in systems, and building a climate of trust. Majuba TVET’s eight campuses, by combining awareness with action, are helping rewrite the norms around safety, dignity, and care in TVET environments.

But this work is ongoing. It requires continued investment, visible leadership, and above all, consistent follow-through. As more learners speak out, institutions must be ready to listen – and respond. Because silence may protect the status quo, but breaking it protects students.