Suspect must appear for Stellies student’s rape

Cape Town - Less than a week after Stellenbosch University (SU) students expressed their concerns over a rape culture on campuses, handing over a memorandum to management, a student was raped in the early hours of Saturday.
A 32-year-old man, who is not a student, was arrested and is expected to appear in court on Monday. The student, 20, was raped in a car in the parking area between the Heemstede and Metanoia residences.
University spokesperson Martin Viljoen said on Sunday that there was a misconception that Stellenbosch was a safe area, and this had led to staff, students and residents “exposing themselves to crime”.
According to SRC member Farai Mubaiwa, there have been three other rape incidents earlier this year.
Mubaiwa said she knew of two rapes that occurred during “welcoming week” in February, which involved a student she knows personally, and now the latest one.
“I can confidently say there have been four rapes thus far. Students are now awake about the rape culture, but it’s unfortunate it took another incident to realise the extent of it,” said Mubaiwa.
Viljoen said that after a student was raped in February, the university reviewed its safety and security arrangements, and will continue to do so in future.
“In the coming week, the university will again, as far as possible, engage stakeholders to see how security can be tightened even more.
“These could include increased patrols, additional security measures, renewed efforts in raising awareness about the safety concerns on campus and in town,” said Viljoen.
“Unfortunately, there is a misconception that Stellenbosch is safe and isolated, with the result that staff, students and residents expose themselves unnecessarily to crime.”
Last week, students handed over a memorandum of demands to end a rape culture on the campus. Included in the student’s demands is increased security.
“There are more security vans on campus,” said Mubaiwa.
“This is part of our demands from our End Rape Culture movement and which (the university’s) management must fulfil by our deadline of next Friday.”
Open Stellenbosch member Melissa Sparrow, a rape survivor herself, said there were not enough security upgrades on the campus.
“When bins were burnt during protests, CCTV cameras were put up. It’s a pity that women are not as important as university property,” said Sparrow.
Senior director for student affairs Dr Birgit Schreiber said the rector’s management team was deeply concerned about incidents of gender violence and had established a task team.
“The task team will explore the complex interplay of factors contributing to gender violence at SU.
“It would be simplistic to assume that the responsibility for correcting gender violence is within the reach of the task group,” said Schreiber.
Measures taken at the university’s campuses include continuous activities to create awareness about gender issues, Schreiber explained. However, she noted that more systematic interventions might be required to challenge entrenched practices.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said police officers were investigating a rape charge.
“A 32-year-old male has been arrested and will appear in court on Monday for the alleged rape of a 20-year-old,” said Rwexana.