DUT’s 12th silent march in Durban calls for action against gender-based violence

DUT students and staff marched through Durban in silence as they honoured victims of gender-based violence and femicide and called for an end to violence, fear and silence.

The streets of Durban saw a silent march on Wednesday as students and staff from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) marched in memory of victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

The university community took part in DUT’s 12th Annual Silent Protest March with participants from the Durban and Midlands campuses walking along Steve Biko Road under the theme, “Silence Speaks: Standing Together Against GBV.”

For those taking part, the silence was not an absence of words, but a powerful statement about the pain, fear and loss experienced by victims and survivors of GBV.

The march, which was conducted under the supervision of law enforcement authorities, formed part of DUT’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about GBVF and encourage students, staff and the wider community to challenge violence.

Speaking during the programme at the Fred Crookes Sport Centre on Steve Biko Campus, Interim Director: Student Services for the Midlands campuses, Sithembile Mjadu, said the university was standing together against violence.

“For many years, DUT has joined the annual Silent Protest, a protest against Gender-Based Violence, against femicide, against all forms of abuse that rob our people of their dignity and their lives. We do not protest as spectators. We protest as a university community that says: Enough. Enough is enough!” said Mjadu.

She said the protest was also rooted in DUT’s Living Values, which include being people-centred, acting with integrity, fairness, embracing diversity and striving for excellence.

DUT students and staff took to the streets of Durban in silence to honour victims of gender-based violence and femicide, while calling for stronger action against abuse.

“People-centred: Every student, every staff member deserves to be safe, respected, and valued. Your pain is our pain. Your safety is our responsibility. Integrity: We commit to truth. To believing survivors. To not looking away when abuse happens in our residences, our classrooms, our offices, and our homes.

“Fairness: There can be no fairness when power is abused. Diversity: We acknowledge that GBV affects all, but disproportionately affects women, children, and LGBTQIA+ persons. Excellence: A truly excellent university is not measured only by research outputs, but by how safe its students feel walking home at night.”

Delivering the keynote address, Dean of Students Dr Clement Moreku called on attendees to observe a moment of silence for those who had lost their lives to GBV .

He stressed that GBV could not be dismissed as an issue affecting women alone, but was a societal failure requiring everyone to take responsibility.

“Awareness alone is not enough. What protects women are systems that work. Leaders who act and communities that refuse to normalise violence.