Gender-based violence on university campuses in the spotlight again

by Ayanda Sithole
Khensani Maseko's death brings issues of gender- based violence at universities to the fore

Women’s month has begun on a tragic note with gender-based violence on university campuses being put in the spotlight yet again.

Following the Total Shutdown of 1 August, where women across the country marched against the terrifyingly high numbers of violence against women and children, this weekend South Africans were shocked at the news that Rhodes University student Khensani Maseko committed suicide on Friday, and it is seems as though she left her suicide note and plea for help on social media.

Her final post on Instagram showed the date of her birth and the date of her death, with the caption “No one deserves to be raped”.

NO ONE DESERVES TO BE RAPED!!

A post shared by Khensani Maseko (@_khensani_) on

While the country is still reeling from her death, students at Nelson Mandela University have forced the suspension of lectures following the rape of a student over the weekend.

South Africans took to social media to voice their anger and shock at the events, which are all too normal in SA:

Here’s what they had to say: