By Anica Hattingh
Gender-based violence (GBV) has been a prevailing topic in South Africa for many years, and recently it recently became a trending discussion amongst student bodies on Stellenbosch University’s (SU) campus.
Two students, Ntando Zuzu (Mentor at Simonsberg Residence) and Megan Alvarez (House Committee Member at Sonop Residence), joined forces during welcoming week to bring awareness to the topic of GBV.
What started as a conversation on how critical engagement sessions shouldn’t just be hour-long sessions during welcoming week, quickly turned into a fun run hosted on 23 August 2025. On this day, students from various residences and backgrounds came together to spread awareness on the importance of standing against GBV.
The aim of the race included empowering and celebrating women, and raising funds for the Stellenbosch GBV Centre, which houses the Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) and the INSPIRE facility. R50s, which were collected as an entry fee on the day of the race, were donated to the centre.
Zuzu shared that full transparency was a priority since the conception of their idea. Transparency was ensured by filming the promotional video, which was posted to Sonop’s Instagram page, in front of Sonop Residence, showing that the initiative was fully approved by SU.
Other promotional videos were also filmed with the initiative’s sponsor, MyBrew, who provided the first ten race participants with coffee vouchers.
“Every act, no matter how small, contributes to creating a safer and more supportive Stellenbosch for survivors of GBV,” said Zuzu.
Alvarez and Zuzu said that they are committed to creating lasting change and raising awareness by hosting more events.
