UFH student gang-raped on Alice campus

Inter-varsity ends on grim note for 20-year-old victim

AUNIVERSITY of Fort Hare student was repeatedly raped by three unknown men who then forced her to take a shower afterwards to get rid of incriminating evidence.

The men initially acted as if they were saving her from a knife-wielding attacker in Alice at the weekend.

The victim was walking to her residence after attending the Eastern Cape inter-varsity tournament at the university’s Alice campus at the weekend.

The 20-year-old student was accosted by a man who drew a knife and forced her into a dark area at about 5.30am on Sunday.

It was at this point that two men pretended to come to the woman’s rescue and chased the would-be knife-wielding attacker away, Eastern Cape police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni told the Daily Dispatch yesterday.

The two men then took the woman to a sports building where they raped her.

“The two suspects were allegedly joined by another male and they all took turns raping her before forcing her to take a shower,” he said.

Tonjeni confirmed they were investigating a rape case but said noone had been arrested yet as police were still following up on leads.

“Police are appealing to anyone who can assist in bringing the perpetrators of this gruesome act to book,” he said.

UFH spokesman Khotso Moabi said they were aware of the incident and said they handed it over to the police for investigation.

He said they tried everything to make sure the environment was safe for all the students.

“Security measurers were in place and the event was categorised by police,” he said

The gang rape comes after Rhodes University pulled out of the annual two-day sporting event, citing safety concerns for their students.

In recent years, Inter-Varsity has descended into lawlessness, with students raped and others killed while on their way from attending the afterparty.

Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the victim was taken to Victoria Hospital in Alice.

“She also received counselling from a social worker,” he said. — DDC