Rhodes University’s Gender Action Project (GAP) yesterday confirmed they had asked their chairwoman to step down after allegations that she had been involved in an emotionally abusive relationship.
New chair Sikhona Nazo told the Daily Dispatch they had decided two weeks ago that Sian Ferguson vacate her position after a former partner publicly claimed she was subjected to emotional abuse during their year-long relationship.
Ferguson yesterday said she was already preparing to step down and leave Grahamstown when the allegations surfaced.
“I was quite surprised when the allegations came to light,” she said when contacted for comment.
Ferguson, who sparked campuswide protests when she claimed more than 20 rapes at the university this year had not been reported, said her unnamed accuser had “never said anything to me about the relationship being that bad” when they were together.
Instead, she said, her ex-partner’s “actions towards me were quite abusive”.
Nazo confirmed that although they had asked Ferguson to step down because of the allegations, she was leaving anyway because of “personal issues”.
“As GAP, we don’t endorse any form of abuse … physical, sexual or emotional. When we heard we had to deal with it.”
Nazo said it would have been “hypocritical” if they supported survivors of rape, sexual assault and violence but did nothing about allegations against their chair.
No formal charges were made against Ferguson by her accuser.
Attempts to track down Ferguson’s former partner, who is still at Rhodes University but is also no longer a GAP member, proved unsuccessful yesterday.
A statement from the GAP committee on their Facebook page on April 26 said they were notifying the Rhodes community and their members that they had been required to ask Ferguson to step down after the claims.
“Ferguson has opted to leave the university currently known as Rhodes for personal reasons and GAP is no longer affiliated with her or any allegations made against her.
“She will be remembered for her contributions to GAP,” the statement said. It added that they hoped to be transparent in holding leaders accountable.
“We are committed to facilitating dialogue and debate about these issues.”
The statement added GAP stood in solidarity with all victims of sexual violence at Rhodes and ended with the #WeBelieveYou and #EndRapeCulture slogans.
According to Nazo, emotional abuse was any form of treatment that dismissed a person’s sense of self-worth and dignity.
These included verbal bullying, constant criticism and humiliation through hurtful jokes and degrading statements, blaming someone for everything that is wrong in your life or theirs and your relationship, and making them feel worthless. Another abusive tactic is gaslighting, which is denial of the validity victims’ experiences or feelings.
“For example the abuser will say that they aren’t being abusive, the victim is just hallucinating or is just overreacting.”
She said emotional and psychological abuse was often not taken as seriously as physical abuse even though it could lead to depression and even suicide.
Rhodes spokesperson Catherine Deiner yesterday said the university was unaware of any official complaint against Ferguson.
Rights activist accused of abuse
New chair Sikhona Nazo told the Daily Dispatch they had decided two weeks ago that Sian Ferguson vacate her position after a former partner publicly claimed she was subjected to emotional abuse during their year-long relationship.
Ferguson yesterday said she was already preparing to step down and leave Grahamstown when the allegations surfaced.
“I was quite surprised when the allegations came to light,” she said when contacted for comment.
Ferguson, who sparked campuswide protests when she claimed more than 20 rapes at the university this year had not been reported, said her unnamed accuser had “never said anything to me about the relationship being that bad” when they were together.
Instead, she said, her ex-partner’s “actions towards me were quite abusive”.
Nazo confirmed that although they had asked Ferguson to step down because of the allegations, she was leaving anyway because of “personal issues”.
“As GAP, we don’t endorse any form of abuse … physical, sexual or emotional. When we heard we had to deal with it.”
Nazo said it would have been “hypocritical” if they supported survivors of rape, sexual assault and violence but did nothing about allegations against their chair.
No formal charges were made against Ferguson by her accuser.
Attempts to track down Ferguson’s former partner, who is still at Rhodes University but is also no longer a GAP member, proved unsuccessful yesterday.
A statement from the GAP committee on their Facebook page on April 26 said they were notifying the Rhodes community and their members that they had been required to ask Ferguson to step down after the claims.
“Ferguson has opted to leave the university currently known as Rhodes for personal reasons and GAP is no longer affiliated with her or any allegations made against her.
“She will be remembered for her contributions to GAP,” the statement said. It added that they hoped to be transparent in holding leaders accountable.
“We are committed to facilitating dialogue and debate about these issues.”
The statement added GAP stood in solidarity with all victims of sexual violence at Rhodes and ended with the #WeBelieveYou and #EndRapeCulture slogans.
According to Nazo, emotional abuse was any form of treatment that dismissed a person’s sense of self-worth and dignity.
These included verbal bullying, constant criticism and humiliation through hurtful jokes and degrading statements, blaming someone for everything that is wrong in your life or theirs and your relationship, and making them feel worthless. Another abusive tactic is gaslighting, which is denial of the validity victims’ experiences or feelings.
“For example the abuser will say that they aren’t being abusive, the victim is just hallucinating or is just overreacting.”
She said emotional and psychological abuse was often not taken as seriously as physical abuse even though it could lead to depression and even suicide.
Rhodes spokesperson Catherine Deiner yesterday said the university was unaware of any official complaint against Ferguson.
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