Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Minister Blade Nzimande revealed that the University of Fort Hare reported 70 incidents of “domestic violence” last year.
The university also reported eight cases of rape on campus last year.
The minister was responding to questions from the DA in parliament recently.
According to information from the minister, UFH was followed by Rhodes University with nine cases of domestic violence – seven in 2012 and two last year.
Questions to the department for clarification on what characterised “domestic violence” were unanswered at the time of going to print yesterday.
A response had not been received from UFH either.
Rhodes University spokesman Lebogang Hashatse said he was unable to respond to the minister’s report as he was also unsure what Nzimande meant by “domestic violence”.
He referred the Daily Dispatch to the university’s website, which states that there were two cases of rape and a case of harassment in 2012.
Last year there was a report of rape and two cases of harassment.
This year, eight cases of harassment were reported and one of sexual assault.
Nzimande said Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) had recorded a case of rape on campus this year.
NMMU spokeswoman Roslyn Baatjies said a case had been reported but criminal charges were dropped. Baatjies said the university had taken action.
“All evidence gathered was presented and the case also taken to the prosecution department where after due consideration the state did not find sufficient evidence to take the matter to court.
“We proceeded with our internal hearing at central disciplinary level due to the fact that the victim was a student,” she said.
“The accused was not a registered student, so we had no jurisdiction over him. A registered student was however found guilty of misconduct in that he “aided and abetted” in the alleged rape. This student was expelled.”
Walter Sisulu University was not mentioned in Nzimande’s response.
Yesterday WSU spokeswoman Angela Church said they had responded to the ministry.
She said in 2012 there were four cases of student rapes reported, three last year and four this year so far.
In 2012 eight cases of student sexual abuse were reported and one last year.
A case of domestic violence was reported in 2012 and one last year.
The minister said 15 universities had responded to his request for information. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Shocking UFH’s abuse statistics
The university also reported eight cases of rape on campus last year.
The minister was responding to questions from the DA in parliament recently.
According to information from the minister, UFH was followed by Rhodes University with nine cases of domestic violence – seven in 2012 and two last year.
Questions to the department for clarification on what characterised “domestic violence” were unanswered at the time of going to print yesterday.
A response had not been received from UFH either.
Rhodes University spokesman Lebogang Hashatse said he was unable to respond to the minister’s report as he was also unsure what Nzimande meant by “domestic violence”.
He referred the Daily Dispatch to the university’s website, which states that there were two cases of rape and a case of harassment in 2012.
Last year there was a report of rape and two cases of harassment.
This year, eight cases of harassment were reported and one of sexual assault.
Nzimande said Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) had recorded a case of rape on campus this year.
NMMU spokeswoman Roslyn Baatjies said a case had been reported but criminal charges were dropped. Baatjies said the university had taken action.
“All evidence gathered was presented and the case also taken to the prosecution department where after due consideration the state did not find sufficient evidence to take the matter to court.
“We proceeded with our internal hearing at central disciplinary level due to the fact that the victim was a student,” she said.
“The accused was not a registered student, so we had no jurisdiction over him. A registered student was however found guilty of misconduct in that he “aided and abetted” in the alleged rape. This student was expelled.”
Walter Sisulu University was not mentioned in Nzimande’s response.
Yesterday WSU spokeswoman Angela Church said they had responded to the ministry.
She said in 2012 there were four cases of student rapes reported, three last year and four this year so far.
In 2012 eight cases of student sexual abuse were reported and one last year.
A case of domestic violence was reported in 2012 and one last year.
The minister said 15 universities had responded to his request for information. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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