Victim of Stellenbosch University incident opens criminal case
Police confirm investigation of charges related to urination on student’s belongings
The Stellenbosch University student whose laptop and other belongings were urinated on by a fellow student laid a complaint of breaking and entering, malicious damage to property and racism yesterday.
First-year student Babalo Ndwayana arrived at the Stellenbosch police station to open a criminal case two days after videoing the incident, which happened at the university’s Huis Marais residence.
Outside the police station Ndwayana, an agriculture student, said he was exhausted after intense media attention.
Police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk confirmed a case had been opened.
“A 20-year-old complainant opened cases of housebreaking unknown, malicious damage to property and crimen injuria at about 2.30pm today at the Stellenbosch police station for investigation,” he said.
The university has suspended first-year student Theuns du Toit over Sunday’s incident and launched an investigation.
The SA Human Rights Commission said it would investigate and the university’s student representative council called yesterday for Du Toit to be expelled.
In a video circulated on social
media, Du Toit apologised to Ndwayana at a Huis Marais meeting.
He has left the residence and is staying with his family.
The ANC said it noted an
increasing trend of racism at Stellenbosch University “and the management’s lacklustre
response to it”. In a statement, it said: “The ANC fully supports the victim and calls on the university to act harshly against the white student who decided to shamelessly urinate on a fellow student in an act of sheer racism.
“There are also videos circulating purporting to be emerging from students of the university which attempt to paint the university as being ‘soiled’ by the admission as well as participation of black students on the campus.”
The statement said provincial leaders would meet university management today, support a student march tomorrow and ask to see higher education minister Blade Nzimande to air concerns about Stellenbosch.
The DA appealed to the university council to address the incident and clarify remedial action.
“We urge that the matter be handled with the requisite speed, diligence and seriousness demanded by the situation.
“We also encourage the university authorities to provide all necessary support to Mr Ndwayana to minimise the impact of this on his studies.
“He did not ask for this to happen, and he should not suffer adverse consequences,” the DA said.