Women’s Month Panel Discussion on GBV in the Workplace

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The UKZN Foundation hosted a fundraising event at Durban’s Barnyard Theatre during Women’s Month in the form of a lunch and a panel discussion on gender-based violence (GBV).

Panelists included award-winning veteran TV and radio journalis, Ms Vanessa Govender; Chief Executive Officer of the Durban Chamber of Commerce, Ms Palesa Phili; UKZN’s Director of Human Resource Development, Mrs Busi Ramabodu; and UKZN Law lecturer and Chairperson of the University’sGBV Committee, Ms Janine Hicks.

The discussions focused on GBV in the workplace and the measures that should be put in place to protect and support employees.

Hicks said challenges included low reporting because of people often being reluctant to report GBV incidents and a “lack of voices raised in solidarity”.

She emphasised the importance of establishing a sexual harassment policy in the workplace and said it should be made clear to staff that GBV was misconduct.

Govender recalled her own harrowing experiences of physical and emotional abuse. ‘Nobody actually gives a crap. We’ve always been on our own,’ she said. Her recently published memoir, Beaten but not Broken reveals the abuse she suffered while in a relationship with a colleague.

Phili raised the matter of bullying in the workplace and committed to going back to her office to check on the policies in place.

Ramabodu said studies showed the majority of GBV offenders were men. ‘Something needs to change,’ she said, emphasising the importance of talking about difficult issues such as GBV.

Audience members spoke about various issues, including raising young boys who do not become abusers and hosting events where men are invited to participate in discussions on GBV.

Executive Director of UKZN Foundation, Professor Anesh Singh, encouraged those present to donate to the Foundation to assist and increase the awareness of GBV among UKZN staff and students.

Singh thanked sponsors of the Women’s Month event, including Serendipity Travel and Specsavers Gateway.

Anyone wanting to make a donation to the fight against GBV should go to https://www.backabuddy.co.za/gbv

The afternoon ended on a light note with Smash Hit Radio, a Barnyard theatre show featuring popular tribute songs spanning the past six decades.

Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

Photograph: Itumeleng Masa