Student accused of rape waits on bail call

A UNIVERSITY of Fort Hare student accused of raping a fellow student will know today whether he will be granted bail or not.

The 23-year-old student appeared before the Alice Magistrate’s Court yesterday for a formal bail hearing for allegedly raping a student of the same age.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesman Tsepo Ndwalaza said the case was postponed to today for judgment on the bail application.

The alleged incident happened on the night of April 21. The suspect was arrested a few days later and had been in police custody since.

The alleged incident took place in a car at the Alice campus on April 21, after a night of partying. The victim was admitted at Victoria Hospital after the incident, where she received medical attention.

The university’s women empowerment organisation, Memeza Stand as One against Gender Based Violence, has called on the university to deal with the matter decisively.

Dr Rianna Oelossun of the organisation said the university did not have a policy in place to deal with sexual harassment related matters.

“There is a draft policy, but that policy is inadequate and needs a lot of work before it could be passed,” she said.

University spokesman Khotso Moabi said the university had decided to initiate an internal disciplinary process against the alleged perpetrator.

“This process will commence as soon as he is released from police custody,” he said.

Moabi said the incident was reported at a time when the university, working with various stakeholders, was in the process of finalising a policy on harassment and sexual assault in light of other reports relating to sexual harassment and violence, “and we are doing our best to expedite this process”.

He said the university condemned all forms of gender-based violence.

“These are deeply abhorrent and barbaric acts that have no place in an institution of higher learning and in our society. We once again undertake that the university will do all in its power to combat rape and all other forms of gender-based violence,” he said.

Moabi encouraged all staff and students to use the confidential whistle blowing service at 0801122562 or ufh@whistleblowing.co.za to send information should they have information on this matter.

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