By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A white student who was seen on camera urinating on a black student’s belongings at Stellenbosch University has been suspended.
The incident reportedly took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“The university strongly condemns the destructive, hurtful and racist incident that was captured on a cellphone video in the Huis Marais residence on the Stellenbosch University campus in the early hours of Sunday morning,” spokesperson Martin Viljoen confirmed.
“[Following his suspension] 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.”
The video, which has been widely shared on social media, has sparked outrage, opening the door to conversations about reportedly racially motivated instances at the institution.
A white student urinates all over a black first year students room, claims this what ‘they’ do to black boys. I cannot keep quiet about this, justice need to be served. I urge you to play your part so this cannot be covered up pic.twitter.com/kbPVZuP6YT
— Simangaliso (@Wanda_Smash) May 15, 2022
The South African Student Congress, SASCO of Stellenbosch, has since condemned and shed light on the event, which they state happened on 15 May.
“In the morning of 15/05/2022 the said racist trespassed and racially attacked the first year black student in his room in Huis Marias in Stellenbosch University.”
They say that the victim was sleeping when he heard a noise in the early hours of the morning to the intruder urinating on his “study desk, books, and on his laptop.”
The response to what was going on was reportedly met with “it is what they do to black boys,” as SASCO concludes.
Another student committee, the Prim Committee of Stellenbosch University have added that they want the student expelled.
“We condemn all humiliating and discriminatory acts and call on all University structures involved to act swiftly without any fear, favour or prejudice,” expressed Christo Van der Bank on behalf of the committee.