Students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) say they are at the mercy of sex pest staff members who demand sexual favours in return for providing services.
The alleged rape of a student at the varsity this week has opened up a can of worms, with more students alleging a hidden culture of sexual violence within student residences.
The students who spoke to Sunday World were reacting to a rape incident that occurred at one of the residences of the Durban institution.
A senior staffer within the department of housing and student residences is believed to have pounced on a first-year student after sending her to a nearby shop. Upon her return, the employee, known to this paper but whose name cannot be revealed because he has not pleaded, is believed to have forcefully pinned the student down and raped her. The victim reportedly managed to flee and alerted other students.
“What we know at this stage is that the resident advisor (accused) called the student from her room to buy something at a shop. When she returned, he switched off the light in his room. The student entered anyway because she trusted him as a parent figure, and that’s when she was raped,” student leader Londa Ntlabati told Sunday World.
He said they had been inundated with similar complaints from students who say those in charge of residences were soliciting sexual favours.
“Most students do not open cases because they fear being victimised and deprived of accommodation,” he said.
The family of the raped student is also up in arms, calling for the alleged perpetrator to be removed from the institution’s payroll.
“When we send our students to study, we do not imagine that they will be raped inside the university premises. The institution must be held liable for employing sexual predators. Our daughter is terrified and it will take time for her to recover from the sexual trauma,” said relative Sthembele Mngoma.
Another student, Octavia Khomo, said it was common cause that residence advisors, who are senior university staff responsible for student life and accommodation, were preying on desperate students.
“ I was also caught up in a similar predicament when I was desperate for accommodation and my bursary had not paid up. I spoke to a staff member at housing and he said he would let me stay for free if I offered to sleep with him, but I refused,” said Khomo.
University spokesperson Alan Khan confirmed to Sunday World that the staff member was arrested on charges of rape.
“The university is aware of the serious allegations. As the matter is under police investigation, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time.”
The accused appeared at the Durban magistrate’s court on Thursday and he was remanded in custody. He will appear this week for his bail hearing.
In 2019, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande set up a Ministerial Task Team to advise on issues of sexual harassment and gender-based violence (GBV) within the university sector. The task team was set up following widespread protests in 2016 calling for an end to the rape culture in universities.
The task team recommended the establishment of an offenders’ register specific to public higher education institutions.
Such a database would serve to create a community network among institutions of higher learning to guard against institutions employing candidates who have been found guilty of GBV.
