UJ students say rape at residences go unreported

Students at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) have accused the institution of downplaying incidents of sexual violence.

The allegations surfaced in Braamfontein today, as young people took to the streets to protest the scourge of rape in the country.

Athule Mrwebi, a representative from Voice it In Action, shared a disturbing account of a female student’s alleged gang rape at a university-accredited residence.

According to Mrwebi, management at the residence, which she declined to name, allegedly failed to take action against the perpetrators.

 

YNews has reached out to the University of Johannesburg regarding the allegations.

“An NGO organised an off-campus march, involving some university students, to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV). UJ takes GBV allegations seriously and encourages students to report incidents promptly, aiming to maintain a safe environment for all,” says media relations officer, Masego Panyane, in a written response.

“We provide immediate support, conduct thorough investigations, and impose disciplinary actions against offenders. Affected students can contact the Student Affairs Office or the campus counseling centre or utilise anonymous reporting mechanisms. We urge all students to report incidents to help foster a safe community,” the statement reads.

As women continue to experience sexual violence, often at the hands of their intimate partners, calls for young men to join the fight and speak out against gender-based violence have been re-ignited.

Young men at the demonstrations emphasised the importance of holding one another accountable for violence against women.

University of Johannesburg students have agreed that it’s time for more men to speak out against the violence perpetrated against their friends and sisters.

Meanwhile, Johannesburg nurses, who also joined demonstrations, say the trauma they’ve experienced due to the constant stream of rape patients in their wards is unacceptable.

The nurses, who are on the frontlines of caring for survivors of sexual violence, say they continue to bear witness to the devastating impact of rape on the lives of young women and their communities.

The nurses say they hope that by speaking out, more will be done to support rape victims.

According to the latest crime statistics, sexual offences reported to the police have shown a slight decrease (0.4%), with 11 566 cases recorded between April and June.