Question NW2757 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
23 October 2018 - NW2757
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)What number of (a) cases of (i) rape, (ii) gender-based violence, (iii) murder, (iv) homicide and (v) fatal attacks have been reported at each campus of each (aa) university and (bb) technical and vocational education and training college since 1 January 2014 and (b) the specified cases (i) went to court and (ii) resulted in convictions; (2) will her department be monitoring the rates of gender-based violence occurring on campuses in order to assess whether her department’s new gender-based violence policy is having an effect; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
- The Department currently does not routinely monitor such cases at university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) campuses. The Department has initiated a process to collect such data from institutions and developed an instrument to be distributed to institutions. Once responses have been received, a report will be provided.
- The Gender Based Violence (GBV) Policy and Strategic Framework is still in the process of development. HEAIDS developed the draft GBV Policy and Strategic Framework, and handed them over to the Department on 26 August 2018. The formal policy development process still needs to be conducted, such as conducting further external consultation, including with the Departments of Social Development, Health, Women, Justice and Constitutional Development, and the National Prosecuting Agency; a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Study needs to be conducted; and a public comments process. The GBV Policy and Strategic Framework will provide an implementation plan that includes monitoring and reporting on incidents. Once finalised and published, the Department will monitor the implementation of the policy.