NMMU comes out in support of Black Friday, an initiative against women abuse, against the deeply sad backdrop of NMMU Law alumnus Reeva Steenkamp's own violent death ...
Why is it that we only react after the fact ... be it beefing up security after the theft of vehicles; fixing potholes after tenth car accident or voicing our anger after the horrific rape and death of a Bredasdorp teenager.
Human nature, I suppose.
The violent rape and death of a young Indian woman galvanised a nation to look carefully at its patriarchial, non-caring society. Many South Africans have similarly asked themselves what has become of us - what drives a group of men to attack, rape and murder a young girl with such savagery.
And then closer to home why NMMU Law alumnus Reeva Steenkamp should have died so young - and so violently. We've been led to believe that she was shot four times by her boyfriend, South Africa's favourite sportsman Oscar Pistorius.
We don't know why she was shot. This is a job for the courts. But shouldn't we be questioning our gun-happy society? Shouldn't we be digging deep and asking ourselves about the underlying factors for this country's rampant crime. And not just be talking about it but addressing it.
Black Friday, a country-wide initiative reflecting our anger against abuse of women, is being embraced at NMMU. Many staff, like these women from the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and IT, wore their black today, while even more discussed the sad end of Reeva Steenkamp, a young woman who once graced our campus.
Our condolences once again go to her family and friends. May her death not be in vain. May it motivate us to turn our talk into action, and do something to change South Africa for the better.
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