By Nhlakanipho Mnqayi
The Durban University of Technology (DUT) LGBTQIA+ in partnership with various student organisations held the Rainbow Alliance peaceful march to highlight the alliances voices and sentiments made against their community.
The purpose of the march was to take a stand and address the sentiments made by the self-appointed President of AmaBhinca, Ngizwe Mchunu over a week ago where he expressed his disgust after a same sex couple wore Zulu traditional gear to their wedding ceremony.
During a march, the Rainbow Alliance marched in all the DUT campuses, Steve Biko, Ritson and ML Sultan displaying their LGBTQIA+ flags, placards and singing in high spirits. They were also joined by the Student Representative Council (SRC) showing their support.
Speaking to Credible Source, Deputy Chairperson of The Rainbow Alliance, Sandiseni Madela, said they are marching in order of celebration of Pride Month that is celebrated in October. He also called for inclusivity and asked for the university to recognise them
“We are having this march to express and show who we are. DUT, in their ENVISION2030, are always preaching inclusivity, but we are never included in any of those activities whether in sports, academics, creative writing and so forth. We are always an afterthought,” Madela explained.
Economic Freedom Fighters Youth Command (EFFYC) DUT branch Chairperson, Wise Ndlovu also threw a jab to the university, saying that the institution hasn’t said anything about the LGBTQIA+ community as the institution doesn’t live by their own DUT LIVING VALUES.
“They have never done even a single programme for LGBTQIA+ community. The management must know that we are all humans and stop preaching equality and diversity that they don’t follow,” Ndlovu said.
South African Student Congress (SASCO) Chairperson, Mthobisi Mkhulise also weighed in and said as a party they fully support the march as they are a non-sexist organization.
