Abstract
Gender-based violence is prevalent in Africa. South Africa in particular presents a peculiarly gruesome case where a woman is killed every three hours and reported cases of rape are above the global average (Africa Check, 2019). Although academia is where most of the problems are examined from a theoretical standpoint, they appear to be clammed up on scrutinising national statistics of gender-based violence, advocacy efforts and proffering solutions to the scourge. Institutions of higher learning also fail to address issues of sexual violence within their walls, and rape and gendered abuse in residences and on-campus are frequently concealed. Even data on gender-based violence within university communities are scarce (Mahlori, Byrne and Mabude, 2018). This paper through a feminist discourse tries to explain the nonchalance exhibited by the South African academia on gender-based violence and the mindfulness for institutional reputation management at the expense of victims.
Abstract
Despite being advanced democracies, South Africa and Botswana, both have regimes of truth perpetuated and sustained over time mainly by state-controlled media (South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Botswana Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) which are free to air, thus reaching a large fraction of the population (Lorenzini, 2015). While discourses of nationalist progress which have been popularized by these state-controlled media have promoted ‘official truths’ over the years, certain silences have also been created around topical issues that are viewed as keeping women in “their place” of relative powerlessness; by an unwritten rule which seems to have catapulted men to the role of making decisions on matters that affect women in fundamental ways (Chege, 2012; Gallagher, 2001). However, the advent of web 2.0 has ushered in social media platforms (particularly Twitter and Facebook) which are increasingly becoming platforms of activism and mobilization tools for protesters, thus challenging state protocol and servings as a voice for marginalized groups (Bosch, Wesserman & Chuma, 2018). This paper examines how different feminist actors have vanquished their ‘right to talk’ to challenge these silences through the use of social media. The focus of the study is on the #aminext movement in South Africa and the #ishallnotforget movement in Botswana, challenging gender-based violence against women and girls. Both movements erupted on social media and consequently proved to be a powerful choir of dissenting voices that did not only challenge but silence regimes of truth which instigated the government to intervene on the protests. In the broader picture, this study through feminist discourse intends to contribute to conversations about the different actors and their different methods in challenging gendered oppression in the South African and Botswana media landscape.
Abstract
This paper examines the participation of Differently Abled People (DAP) in Botswana amidst the National Vision 2036 tagged “Prosperity for all” which inherently assumes that all people of Botswana (including DAP) will receive significant prosperity by the year 2036. It is imperative to mention that the National Vision runs concurrent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which conveniently mentions disability in passing under the reduced inequalities goal (By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status). The paper argues that it is time Global organisations and Nations make issues of disabilities core business like gender equality and climate action in order to fully facilitate the participation of DAP in economic, social, political and spiritual life and development. The paper furthermore incorporates narratives of DAP in Botswana in light of how they want to be perceived and addressing the negative perceptions imposed upon them which deny them to fulfil their human rights. The paper concludes by arguing that the issues of DAPs will never be taken seriously locally until they are recognised as binding goal targets at global level and recommendations on engaging the government, communities, religious movements, schools and business community on methods to effect participation of DAP.
WORKSHOP
2021
Participated in the National Council for the Gender-Based Violence & Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill Consultations for the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
TRAINING
2021
Completed training: University Teaching Assistant Programme Online Course (UTAP).
TAINING
2021
Completed training: Academic Writing and Communicating Research Results; and Managing the PhD Process (Managing Literature Review & Emotional Intelligence).
TRAINING
2019
Completed training: Advanced Research Design (Designing Social Inquiry, Critical Policy Engaged Research, Multi-Methods Strategies & Ethics for Social Science Research); and Engendering Social Science Research Methods.
TRAINING
2015
Completed training in the module: Gender, Elections and The Media.