Hundreds of angry students shut down an Eastern Cape college yesterday demanding better security in the wake of a rape on campus.
A 19-year-old student from Lovedale FET College’s Zwelitsha campus – next to the provincial police headquarters – says she was raped on her way to class on Thursday.
More than 500 students held a sit-in yesterday demanding action from management, who they accuse of failing to protect them from constant muggings and harassment.
Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed they were investigating the case.
She said the engineering student, who cannot be named due to the nature of the case, was with two friends. Mawisa said the girl had gone back home to fetch her phone and on her way back saw her classmates being chased by two men. A third man, hiding in a bush, accosted and raped her on the college grounds near the sports field.
Angry students yesterday carried placards stating “enough is enough” and “we are fighting for our rights; safety and security”.
During the silent protest, the students took over the institution’s reception area. They also collected pallisade fencing material, which was meant to be erected around the campus, and stacked it on the driveway.
College head Luvuyo Ngubelanga had to be called from his King William’s Town office to address the crowd.
He denied that the incident took place near the college’s sports field.
Appalling safety and security measures were highlighted yesterday when the Daily Dispatch visited the college.
Vandalism and theft of fencing were challenges facing the college.
Security guards were stationed at the main gate but not at the second gate, near the alleged rape site.
SRC president Sindiswa Gcobo said: “We are in pain as students.
“Thieves ... just walk in and steal clothes from the washing line.”
Gcobo said the “go-slow” would continue and management had until Friday to attend to some of their grievances.
Ngubelanga admitted to the inadequacy of security measures at the college. “There was a project to secure the college some time ago and it was supposed to have been completed before I got here last year,” he said. “The process of appointing the principal agent was delayed. There was fencing here but the students cut it because they want short cuts when they go home.
“Thieves from the township come and steal the fence.
“We are organising counselling for the child.
He had a meeting with the new agent for the security upgrade tomorrow, he added. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Anger after teen raped at Lovedale
A 19-year-old student from Lovedale FET College’s Zwelitsha campus – next to the provincial police headquarters – says she was raped on her way to class on Thursday.
More than 500 students held a sit-in yesterday demanding action from management, who they accuse of failing to protect them from constant muggings and harassment.
Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed they were investigating the case.
She said the engineering student, who cannot be named due to the nature of the case, was with two friends. Mawisa said the girl had gone back home to fetch her phone and on her way back saw her classmates being chased by two men. A third man, hiding in a bush, accosted and raped her on the college grounds near the sports field.
Angry students yesterday carried placards stating “enough is enough” and “we are fighting for our rights; safety and security”.
During the silent protest, the students took over the institution’s reception area. They also collected pallisade fencing material, which was meant to be erected around the campus, and stacked it on the driveway.
College head Luvuyo Ngubelanga had to be called from his King William’s Town office to address the crowd.
He denied that the incident took place near the college’s sports field.
Appalling safety and security measures were highlighted yesterday when the Daily Dispatch visited the college.
Vandalism and theft of fencing were challenges facing the college.
Security guards were stationed at the main gate but not at the second gate, near the alleged rape site.
SRC president Sindiswa Gcobo said: “We are in pain as students.
“Thieves ... just walk in and steal clothes from the washing line.”
Gcobo said the “go-slow” would continue and management had until Friday to attend to some of their grievances.
Ngubelanga admitted to the inadequacy of security measures at the college. “There was a project to secure the college some time ago and it was supposed to have been completed before I got here last year,” he said. “The process of appointing the principal agent was delayed. There was fencing here but the students cut it because they want short cuts when they go home.
“Thieves from the township come and steal the fence.
“We are organising counselling for the child.
He had a meeting with the new agent for the security upgrade tomorrow, he added. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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