The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, welcomes the arrest of a university student for allegedly stabbing his wife at a private student residence in Belhar, Cape Town, on Saturday, 11th November 2023.
The 26-year-old woman is a student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), while her alleged attacker, 30, is a University of Western Cape (UWC) student.
According to UWC, the suspect and the CPUT student are spouses.
Minister Nzimande welcomes the swift response of law enforcement agencies in arresting the perpetrator who according to the video footage in circulation was so merciless and barbaric in committing the crime against his spouse.
Minister Nzimande said Gender-based violence (GBV) or violence against women and girls (VAWG) was a global pandemic that affected one in three women in their lifetime.
The minister also noted that as many as 38% of murders of women were committed by an intimate partner, 35% of women worldwide experienced physical and sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.
As part of dealing with gender-based violence in our institutions, Minister Nzimande launching the Transforming MENtalities Initiative, which is a multistakeholder partnership within the PSET, with a particular focus on mobilising men in our sector to be part of championing a world free of gender biases, stereotypes, violence and discrimination.
Minister Nzimande urges all institutions working with Higher Health (which oversees wellness at higher education institutions) to continue working collectively in implementing programmes towards addressing the challenges of sexual and gender based violence within the PSET ( Post School Education and Training) system.
Minister Nzimande wishes the victim a speedy recovery in hospital.
Meda Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 066 037 8859
Minister Blade Nzimande on stabbing of CPUT student
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