By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Amidst flaring racial tensions after a white student was filmed urinating on a black students belongings at Huis Marais, Stellenbosch University, an alleged rape has been reported, also on campus after an 18-year-old student charged with two counts of rape, was granted R1 000 bail at the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The university confirmed the student was arrested on Wednesday morning after a 19-year-old female student opened a case with the police.
The incident reportedly to have occurred on Tuesday evening at Majuba residence at the Stellenbosch campus.
Sources close to the accused from Paarl said his family is “completely broken” by the allegations.
Police spokesperson Captain Frederick Van Wyk said circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated by the Stellenbosch Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
The circumstances surrounding a rape that was reported to the police by a 19-year-old female victim on Wednesday are being investigated by the Stellenbosch FCS unit.
“It is alleged that the incident occurred at about 10.30pm on Tuesday at a residence in Victoria Street Stellenbosch,” he said.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the accused cannot be in contact with the complainant as a condition of bail.
A University of Stellenbosch student appeared at the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court (Thursday) morning.
“He is charged with two counts of rape. The court set his bail at R1 000 with conditions that he must not be in contact with the complainant.
“His case was postponed until June 29 for further investigation,” Ntabazalila said.
The Student Representative Council of Stellenbosch University has released a statement regarding an alleged rape at the university that the student has been suspended from his residence.
“The SRC is abhorred that our university is yet again faced with an incident of Gender-Based Violence,” it said in a statement.
The SRC confirmed that the female student is from another SU residence and that disciplinary proceedings have commenced.
“It can further not be ignored that of the three despicable incidents that took place over the past week, two occurred within the SU men’s residences,” it stressed.
The university has since decided to postpone the first semester examination period with one week.
Examinations for the first semester will now start on Monday, 30 May.
The university says the deadline for assessments will also be extended by one week.
It says this will not impact the start of the second semester, which still begins on 18 July.