When the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande recently announced that universities are allowed to operate at 100% capacity, CPUT counselling psychologists endorsed measures to follow if students had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Head of Student Counselling, Louisa Brits and two other counselling psychologists, Dr Charlene Petersen and Hanro Lourens say they aim to create awareness around procedures for dealing with a roommate or peer, who may test positive for COVID-19. The measures are more specifically aimed at guiding students.

 Brits says being confronted with a situation like this can be overwhelming and scary, often evoking a panic response.  When confronted with a scary situation one might struggle to find accurate information, trying to search through protocols and manuals. This increases uncertainty and fear, furthermore, testing one’s own coping and stress management mechanism. “This anxiety response may lead to unhealthy responses like discrimination or stigma (including gossip, spreading false rumours, unconfirmed information) towards the person/peer who tested positive.”

She says having accurate and up to date information on what steps to take eliminates panic and can assist in more rational and clear thinking.

Tips for students or people who are confronted with a peer/family member who tested positive:

• Know the facts about COVID-19 - consult CPUT’s COVID -19 webpage for accurate information.
• Know that there are different levels of exposure and that exposure to a person with a positive COVID diagnosis does not necessarily imply you will contract the virus.
• Know how to protect others in the event that you might have been exposed, be responsible and maintain physical distancing.
• Know the symptoms and understand that only a small percentage of people develop serious or life-threatening symptoms. The recovery rate from COVID-19 is currently high for South Africa.
• Know which safeguarding measures to implement- social distancing, wearing a mask, sanitising and disinfecting protocol
• Know the difference between quarantine and self-isolation and when to implement which protocol
• Know when to seek help and do not be scared to consult the helplines provided by the university

An HIV peer educator says it was scary when her friend tested positive for COVID-19 because they share the same space 90% of the time. The friend tried to push their friends away but they didn't allow that to happen because that was the time she was going to need all their (friends) support the most.  “We had turns to check up on her with video calls. She cried the day she came back to our residence; she couldn't thank us enough for making her life easy during the difficult times.”

Another peer educator, Nicole Birabwa helped a student in her discussion group on mental health who tested positive and couldn’t focus on her books.  With Nicole’s advice, the student received counselling from one of the student counselling online groups. “It’s important to stand together to fight COVID, let’s not be selfish and neglect those who have tested positive but rather, let’s check up on them and provide help where needed because they feel just as we do, scared, shocked and sad.”

*If your worry or anxiety is persistent and constant, and you are finding it hard to stop worrying about the coronavirus, it is best to seek support.

COVID-19 toll-free line: 0800 029 999

Higher Health 24-hour counselling support line: 0800 36 36 36

For CPUT students, request counselling support at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For staff, contact the CPUT Lifestyle and Wellness Specialist at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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During a recent gender-based violence (GBV) roundtable webinar hosted by the Student Affairs Division to celebrate Women’s Day contributors called for an integrated approach to combating this scourge on CPUT campuses.

The contributors, composed of leaders in the Higher Education sector, civil society and government, said ongoing monitoring and evaluation of actions dealing with GBV were needed to inform interventions. They advocated for GBV ambassadors especially within the Student Affairs Division.

Among the contributors there was a panel consisting of Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (Commission for Gender Equality: Commissioner), Nonkosi Tyolwana (Director of Transformation at CPUT), Dellicia de Vos (CPUT’s Disability Unit), Nkokheli Mankayi (Activate Network and CPUT Alumnus), Kanyisa Booi (Matriarch and Sons) and Central Student Representative Council President, Phinda Swartbooi.

The contributors made a case for a thorough investigation into prevalence and under-reporting of GBV cases and further argued that sexual reproductive health and psychological issues must also be considered when dealing with GBV and not just its physical effects.

They also called for the Student Representative Council’s commitment to co-ordinate other student structures to come up with a student-centred approach to address GBV.

They highlighted the need for policy interventions to be more inclusive of marginalised groups such as people with disabilities and the LGBTQI community. They clarified that gendered violence does not only refer to male- female abuse exclusively, but also includes male - on - male as well as female – on - female violence.

“The key takeaway from this session is to secure safe learning spaces within Higher Education; to look at different initiatives and ways to work constructively and collectively to make a change,” says Louisa Brits, Head of Student Counselling and one of the webinar’s organisers.

“By highlighting experiences of GBV from different communities (including marginalised groups) within the campuses will inform different programme interventions; practical and implementable solutions will be the important part of awareness and instrumental to sensitise others about GBV.”

Written by Kwanele Butana
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