GBV survivors are not just statistics but real people with stories that matter, says UCT students

CAPE TOWN - The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation is reminding South Africans that survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) are not just statistics but real people with stories that matter.

This as students and parents marched to Parliament on Saturday to honour the memory of Uyinene and stand in solidarity with GBV survivors across the country.

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) student representative council said it on often hosts discussions and panels focused on rape and rape culture.

SRC president Thando Lukhele said inclusive conversations especially those involving men are critical in shifting harmful societal norms and addressing rape culture head-on.

"There is a big societal ill in our country. We have the highest GBV rate in the world. So, what we are bringing forward to parliament is, Uyinene is one of many. Uyinene does not exist as that one girl from UCT, but rather she represents the greater collective of people," said Lukhele