Durban – Shocked students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) watched the police arrest a senior housing staff member for allegedly raping a first-year female student.
Once the violent attack was reported, police swooped on the DUT campus and arrested the suspect on Wednesday.
Word soon spread around the campus that a university staffer had raped a first-year student.
Commenting on the matter, the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) said: “A senior housing staff member who is a residence advisor of first-year students residents and who is also a coordinator of outsourced residences has been arrested earlier today after allegedly raping a first-year female student”.
EFFSC Branch Chairperson Siyanda Kapteni Mpontshana said in a statement that the rape survivor told student representatives of her ordeal and they helped her to seek medical attention and report the attack to the police.
“We also learnt that after the rape incident, RA attempted to silence the student by making death threats,” said the statement.
“However we applaud the student for being brave and reporting the matter to the police.
“We also encourage all students to report such matters whenever they face them.”
The South African Students Congress (SASCO) said it was “outraged and disgusted” by the incident.
“This heinous act is a stark reminder of the pervasive Gender-Based Violence (GBV) that continues to afflict our society, perpetuated by toxic patriarchal norms and impunity,” SASCO said.
“We condemn this brutal violation of a fellow student’s bodily autonomy and dignity, and we stand in unwavering solidarity with the victim.”
The DUT administration could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
The arrested staffer is expected to appear in court on Thursday, the EFFSC said.
