Inaugural Lecture Charts New Frontiers in Gender-Based Violence

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In her recent inaugural lecture as a full professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Professor Sinegugu Duma explored her ground-breaking work on gender-based violence (GBV), a field she has pioneered in South African nursing.

Her presentation, titled: “Navigating the Uncharted Territories in Gender-Based Violence - Transforming Nursing Scholarship and Practice” focused on transforming the role of nursing in addressing and supporting victims of GBV. This milestone in her career is befitting of an academic who embodies an unwavering dedication to advancing socially impactful research and healthcare.

Duma thanked her parents for their support throughout her journey. Duma’s father passed away in 2020 and her mother, last year in October. She said, ‘My parents once gifted me a priceless treasure: a lantern. This lantern symbolises the unwavering light they have continuously shone in my life, supporting me through every step of my studies.’

A highly accomplished academic, Duma holds a PhD from the University of Cape Town and a Master’s in Nursing Education from UKZN. Her career spans nearly three decades of educating nurses and health professionals nationally and internationally. Currently serving as Dean for Teaching and Learning at UKZN’s College of Health Sciences, she has supervised over 30 postgraduate students, including 12 PhD graduates and one postdoctoral fellow, and held adjunct positions at prestigious institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and Jönköping University.

In her lecture, Duma shared insights into her pioneering work on GBV. She reflected on her time as a Nursing student in 1986-1989 at the Victoria Mxenge Hospital (formerly King Edward VIII Hospital) where she interacted with a victim of GBV. She received her first lesson on the importance of preserving forensic evidence and realised there is a need for a Nursing curriculum response to sexual violence. 

She first approached the topic in the 1990s when she began researching the traumatic effects of sexual violence on survivors. Driven by her early findings, she developed a specialised course in Sexual Assault Forensic Nursing, leading to the formal establishment of Forensic Nursing Practices in the Western Cape. This course has since empowered nurses to provide trauma-informed care at Thuthuzela Care Centres across South Africa, significantly improving support for GBV survivors. Moreover, her advocacy led the South African Nursing Council to recognise Forensic Nursing as a formal specialty, a milestone that has since strengthened healthcare responses to GBV nationwide.

Duma’s contributions extend beyond clinical practice. Her NRF-funded research on campus sexual violence has identified “hot spots” at the University of Cape Town, where incidents are more likely to occur, resulting in safety initiatives such as Mobile Campus Protection Units in collaboration with the Campus Risk Management Unit. Her expertise was further acknowledged when the University of Cape Town appointed her to establish South Africa’s first Campus Multidisciplinary Sexual Assault Response Team, a model that brought national media attention for its innovative, survivor-centred approach.

Despite the challenges inherent in such emotionally demanding work, Duma has remained dedicated to advancing forensic nursing and healthcare solutions for GBV. Her journey has been marked by resilience, perseverance, and the mentorship she received from leaders in health disciplines, both locally and abroad. She credits the guidance of mentors like the late Professor Lynette Denny and others at Johns Hopkins University for supporting her vision. Additionally, her establishment of the South African Forensic Nursing Association and the KwaZulu-Natal Forensic Nursing Forum has provided critical platforms for research, advocacy, and training to improve GBV responses across the nation.

Duma’s story is not only one of professional achievement but also one of personal inspiration. She shared the importance of women supporting each other in academia, encouraging others to overcome self-doubt and working collaboratively to reach their goals. Her efforts, which extend beyond the scope of Nursing, exemplify the transformative power of dedication and resilience in addressing urgent social issues like GBV.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Supplied