A University of Fort Hare student accused of raping a fellow student made a brief appearance before the Alice Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and the case was postponed for May 2.
The 23-year-old student allegedly raped the fellow student, also 23, on Saturday night.
It is alleged that there were drinking together with other students and the suspect was inside the car with the victim at the university's Fort Hare campus.
University spokesman Lizo Phiti said the university's gender-based violence policy was under review.
“Given the seriousness and how the university views incidents of this nature, this policy is under review and it is being circulated for comments at the moment,” he said.
Students at Alice and East London campuses having a vigil in support of victims of gender-based violence (GBV).
In a statement released by Memeza Stand as One Against GBV, Zintle Nobangule said the Saturday incident was evidence that rape was endemic in the country and especially at the institutions of higher learning.
“We call on all staff and students on all our campuses to hold a vigil in support of all victims of gendered-based violence. Let us stand together and show support to all the victims and survivors in our community,” she said.
Nobangule said they have gathered ample evidence that crimes of sexual aggression, victimisation and predation were all too common and remained unreported.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that sexual violence has become normalised and permissible in this indifferent context,” she said.
Fort Hare student in court on rape allegations
The 23-year-old student allegedly raped the fellow student, also 23, on Saturday night.
It is alleged that there were drinking together with other students and the suspect was inside the car with the victim at the university's Fort Hare campus.
University spokesman Lizo Phiti said the university's gender-based violence policy was under review.
“Given the seriousness and how the university views incidents of this nature, this policy is under review and it is being circulated for comments at the moment,” he said.
Students at Alice and East London campuses having a vigil in support of victims of gender-based violence (GBV).
In a statement released by Memeza Stand as One Against GBV, Zintle Nobangule said the Saturday incident was evidence that rape was endemic in the country and especially at the institutions of higher learning.
“We call on all staff and students on all our campuses to hold a vigil in support of all victims of gendered-based violence. Let us stand together and show support to all the victims and survivors in our community,” she said.
Nobangule said they have gathered ample evidence that crimes of sexual aggression, victimisation and predation were all too common and remained unreported.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that sexual violence has become normalised and permissible in this indifferent context,” she said.
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