Parliament, Sunday, 12 November2023 – The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture has learnt with shock of an attack on a female student from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) at a private student residence.
The Chairperson Mr Elleck Nchabeleng said the committee condemned the attack in the strongest terms possible.
“Our country is grappling with a high rate of gender-based violence, where most victims even die. It would seem that society is not angry enough. We must show anger and be very intolerant of these kinds of abuses as South Africans. All men should be able to say in one voice: not in our name.”
A male, who is understood to also be a student on Saturday allegedly attacked a female student he is reportedly in a relationship with. Reports indicated that the woman survived the assault and was admitted to hospital where her condition is believed to be stable.
Mr Nchabeleng said this is just one incident of violence against university students, some of whom were attacked inside and off campuses and campus residences.
“Safety should be priority number one in student accommodation that is based outside of campuses, but it is important that universities decide what this would entail. Early this year, there was a similar incident where a university student was allegedly robbed and killed for a cellphone in Belhar.”
The committee is really saddened by this incident and therefore calls for heightened security on off-campus residences and that all support should be availed to all students until they finish writing their examinations.
“But also, discussions should be held on campuses in such a manner as to empower students not to perpetuate abuses and sexual abuses against fellow students. The fight against gender-based violence is a continuous battle that as a country we must never tire to wage. The situation on campuses must change,” said Mr Nchabeleng.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR ELLECK NCHABELENG.
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