“Female students at VUT received sanitary towels through a drive hosted by the Victim Empowerment Centre and SRC, helping to address menstrual hygiene challenges on campus.”
17June 2026 | Story by: Tshepiso Kaibe | Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza
3 minutes read time.
For many female students, a lack of access to sanitary towels is more than an inconvenience. It can mean missing classes, struggling to concentrate during examinations, or facing the embarrassment of managing a menstrual cycle without the products they need.
Recognising this reality, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Victim Empowerment Centre, in partnership with the Student Representative Council (SRC), hosted a sanitary towels drive at the University’s Main Residence on 10 June 2026, bringing practical support and reassurance to female students during the examination period.
The initiative formed part of an ongoing effort to promote menstrual dignity and ensure that no student is disadvantaged because they cannot afford essential menstrual hygiene products.
According to Welfare and Victim Empowerment Centre Manager Ms Faith Mocoancoeng, the programme was inspired by the challenges many students face when unexpected menstrual cycles occur while they are on campus and away from home.
“Many students come from vulnerable families and often find themselves without sanitary towels when they need them most,” she said. “This initiative is about restoring dignity and ensuring that students do not resort to unhealthy alternatives such as toilet paper or old clothing.”
For many students, the distribution was about more than receiving a basic necessity. It was a reminder that they are seen, supported and understood.
Ms Mocoancoeng explained that the initiative extends beyond a once-off distribution drive. Sanitary towels will be available through several access points across campus, including the Victim Empowerment Centre, the campus clinic, Student Counselling Services and residence house parents, ensuring that assistance remains accessible to both on-campus and off-campus students throughout the year.
She added that the centre also provides menstrual cups as a sustainable alternative, offering students a long-term solution that can support them throughout their academic journey.
For first-year Industrial Engineering student Ms Nokwazi Mdebele, the initiative addresses a challenge that many students experience silently.
“Not all students receive funding, and some cannot afford necessities such as sanitary towels,” she said. “Initiatives like this help reduce the pressure on students who are already struggling financially and provide support where it is needed most.”
First-year Mechanical Engineering student Ms Khomanani Chavalala echoed similar sentiments, describing the campaign as both timely and impactful.
“This is a great initiative, especially for students who receive limited financial support,” she said. “It helps us manage an important need without additional financial strain.”
Ms Chavalala also expressed hope that the programme would continue to expand and reach even more students in the future.
“I would like to see initiatives like this happening more often so that every student who needs assistance can easily access it on campus,” she added.
As universities continue to address student wellbeing in a holistic manner, initiatives such as the sanitary towels drive highlight how seemingly small interventions can have a significant impact on student success. By helping to remove barriers that many young women face every month, VUT is reaffirming a simple but important message: no student should have to choose between pursuing their education and maintaining their dignity.