The seventh annual Sexual Violence = Silence protest has expanded to include the likes of Wits University and UKZN.
The seventh annual Sexual Violence = Silence protest taking place on Friday 19 April has gone beyond Rhodes University's campus for the first time as awareness efforts are raised in other parts of South Africa.
Wits University, the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal and a Speak Out Cape Town event are also a part of the initiative which stands in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence.
Around 1500 Rhodes students are taking part in the part in the protest this year.
In a media statement released by organisers, focus was drawn to how greater public attention needs to be directed towards rape as an issue while addressing the services provided to survivors.
Grim stats
"Government crime statistics reveal that 65 000 sexual assaults were reported in SA last year. Of these only 6.5% are successfully prosecuted and less than half of 1% of perpetrators will serve any jail-time," the statement read.
The analysis and statistics paint a grim picture of how South Africans from all walks of life are affected.
"All studies agree that the vast majority never report the crime to the police and there are many statistics available focusing on the ratio of reporting to non-reporting of rape survivors: the most conservative estimate comes from Rape Crisis (1 in 4) and the most shocking comes from the SAPS (1 in25). These statistics translate to anywhere from 260 000 to over 1.5 million rapes annually," continued the statement.
A large amount of the protestors will be gagged for the entire day, sacrificing food, water and speech as a symbolic embodiment of the silence endured by the many survivors of rape. Others will don shirts with "rape survivor" printed on the front and an explanation on the back.
There are also participants who wear shirts declaring their solidarity with survivors of sexual violence.
Top Twitter trend
The hashtag #RUSilent has been the top South African trend on Twitter on Friday as both protestors and members of the public join in the discussion.
Kayla Roux posted a picture explaining the meaning of the three spheres of participation:
Silent Protest today #rusilent if you were wondering what the shirts mean: MT @rusilenttwitter.com/RUSilent/statu…— Kayla Roux (@KaylavstheWorld) April 19, 2013
Comedian Siv Ngesi, who is in Grahamstown for the protest, reminded his followers of the seriousness of the occasion:
If you think rape is a joke! Come make a joke here with 1500 protesters and many rape survivors! We will see who laughs #RUsilent#SAManUp— Siv Ngesi (@iamSivN) April 19, 2013
Former Rhodes student and now Wits postgraduate Shandu Mulaudzi was also a part of the discussion:
We should be hurt by the number of rape survivor t-shirts we see. #rusilent— #rusilent (@ShanduMul) April 19, 2013
Words by Tyson Ngubeni