Johannesburg - There were 247 reported cases of sexual violence, domestic violence and rape at 15 universities across the country in the past three years. But only two cases were reported to the police.
Sixty of these cases resulted in internal charges being brought against alleged perpetrators by the universities.
These figures emerged in Parliament in a reply by Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande to questions asked by DA higher education spokeswoman Belinda Bozzoli.
Nzimande sent the questions to universities that responded themselves.
Of the 30 reported cases of rape, only eight reached a conclusion. Of the 68 reports of sexual violence, 38 were taken further and, of the 149 reports of domestic violence among students, 18 were pursued to a conclusion by the universities.
Fort Hare, Wits and Stellenbosch universities recorded the most cases of reported rape in the past three years.
Wits had nine reported rapes, with one disciplinary hearing and one pending outcome. Stellenbosch had five reported cases of rape and Fort Hare had eight, but there were no disciplinary hearings for any of them and no outcomes.
Fort Hare received 70 reports of domestic violence in the past three years, of which none appears to have been taken further, either internally or externally.
Bozzoli said universities appeared unable to pursue cases of sexual violence and rape reported through internal disciplinary procedures to their logical conclusion. Furthermore, only a tiny number appeared to be prosecuted through the courts, she said.
She added that the cases might not fully represent the scourge of violence on higher education campuses.
“Young university women are inhibited from reporting sexual crimes for a variety of reasons, including intimidation, ostracism and embarrassment. Many victims withdraw their cases soon after they have been reported, as reporting is often made taboo,” said Bozzoli.
There was a desperate need for institutions to provide anonymous and confidential facilities for victims to report sexual violence and for universities to make it clear that gender-based violence was unacceptable and would be severely punished.
The Star