Anger after student’s property urinated on
THERE has been national outrage against a white Stellenbosch University (SU) student, after a black student’s room was broken and had his property urinated on.
The white student has since been suspended, the university said.
The incident reportedly occurred at the Huis Marais university residence on Sunday at 4am. The black student, who was sleeping, heard a noise, and said he saw the white student urinating on his desk, books and laptop. When asked why he was doing this, he allegedly said it is what they do to black boys.
SU senior director: student affairs Dr Choice Makhetha said the affected student was in shock after his upsetting and painful ordeal. “He is still trying to process what happened and was offered counselling. He will be supported as and when required to ensure his academic progress is not affected by the incident.”
“A further swift but detailed investigation will determine the final outcomes. Expulsion and/or criminal charges are not excluded from the possible available options based on the investigation’s findings,” SU spokesperson Martin Viljoen said.
The university condemned the destructive, hurtful and racist incident and said the Huis Marais residence management was made aware of the incident on Sunday, and they immediately reported it to the relevant university structures for urgent investigation.
Said the university’s vice chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers: “We are appalled by this type of behaviour. Such conduct will not be tolerated at the university. We acted swiftly and decisively to uphold our commitment to a culture inclusivity.
“What happened at Huis Marais is not acceptable. No student has the right to diminish another student’s human dignity or rights in this way.”
Makhetha added the residence called a house meeting to ensure the house understood the situation and what needed to continue to change to prevent a repeat of any similar action.
There was a second video making the rounds on social media from an emergency house meeting in the morning. “I just want to apologise to him and to everyone in general for my behaviour. I know that it was wrong and I just want to apologise. Sorry guys,” the white student said.
The EFF Student Command said the university had been well-known to be “anti-black” for decades.
“The reason why the perpetrator found it necessary to violate another student’s space is because he knows that his actions are supported by management. If anything, the anti-black members of staff and senate of the university will find it unnecessary to punish this racist student,” the organisation said.
The SA Students Congress (Sasco) at Stellenbosch University condemned the incident with the highest contempt for the racist actions of the “racist hooligan” who attacked the black student.
“The racist hooligan violated his dignity thus violating his constitutional right as a citizen of South Africa but also his rights as a Stellenbosch University student. The student constitution is clear that every student has an inherent right to human dignity and a right to have their rights respected and protected,” Sasco said.
Sasco added anything short of expulsion and potential criminal charges would be regarded as injustice.
In 2008, a video that showed white students humiliating and abusing elderly black staff at the University of the Free State’s Reitz hostel sparked a criminal investigation, prompted a human rights complaint and resulted in widespread protests and condemnation.