Varsity singing competition causes outrage

Offensive sexist placards in ‘disgusting culture’ at UP

The University of Pretoria is investigating offensive language that was used towards women during a singing competition on Tuesday.

This comes after pictures of male students holding placards with offensive words emerged on social media.

Some of the placards read : “Show us your tits”, “Nice thigh gap, can I fill it?”, “You can ride my giraffe” and “I like it when you hold my trunk”.

Spokeswoman for the university Candice Jooste said the university was made aware of the images when they were posted on social media yesterday morning.

Students who spoke to Sowetan said the singing competition is a “culture” that has been happening for years at the university. It involves female and male residences competing, where males go to perform at a female residence for a night and vice versa.

“It’s a culture that is disgusting but is defended by those who participate in it. It is not only sexist but promotes rape culture,” said a student, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.

The student said similar placards also emerge when male students perform at female residences.

UP’s EFF Student Command chairwoman Caroline Letsatsi said students have asked the university numerous times to do away with the competition but it is still continuing.

“It’s wrong and it does perpetuate rape culture,” she said.

The university said investigation into the matter where ongoing. “The university is looking into the matter and will not hesitate to act against anyone found guilty of offensive behaviour against women. The university condemns any behaviour that is harmful to women,” it said in a statement yesterday.

The singing competition happened a few hours after female students held an awareness campaign on sexual violence and rape culture.