Cape Town - Nine UCT students have been removed from the institution’s residences following allegations of rape, sexual assault and homophobia levelled against them.
Protests erupted at Roscommon House, an off-campus residence, on Wednesday night where students demanded action against eleven peers whom they said they did not feel safe around.
“The GBV culture in Roscommon has been prolonged thus far due to the alienation of the residence from other UCT residences. It has been clear that the university leadership has continuously failed to protect and ensure the safety of students and survivors in the house,” the SRC said in a statement.
The students are also calling on UCT management to review the existing sexual assault and harassment policies.
“(We) urge the university to practise the inclusivity of Roscommon House & other semi-private UCT residences in providing decent student living conditions.”
UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola, said since Wednesday morning, UCT facilitated the removal of nine of these students from the residence.
“The other two students are unaccounted for at this stage. The executive has also provided responses directly to the SRC and will have ongoing engagements with the student representatives over this matter,” he said.
Moholola, said the student has been offered support available at university and referrals to relevant external organisations.
“The student is at liberty to choose not to use these services. UCT does not and has not paid any legal fees for anyone involved in this or any other legal case,” he said.
In relation to the Respublica management has called private security onto their property in response to the removal of 11 perpetrators of sexual assault, sexual violence and homophobia. Students at uct are not protected.
We’ll see leaders at roscommon shortly 🤝 pic.twitter.com/7kQoQbaqie
">video circulating on social media showing a group of armed private security guards called to remove the alleged perpetrators at Roscommon House, Moholola said the university was urgently attending to the issues.Respublica management has called private security onto their property in response to the removal of 11 perpetrators of sexual assault, sexual violence and homophobia. Students at uct are not protected.
— jes (@JesseGriesel) May 18, 2022
We’ll see leaders at roscommon shortly 🤝 pic.twitter.com/7kQoQbaqie
Respublica management has called private security onto their property in response to the removal of 11 perpetrators of sexual assault, sexual violence and homophobia. Students at uct are not protected.
— jes (@JesseGriesel) May 18, 2022
We’ll see leaders at roscommon shortly 🤝 pic.twitter.com/7kQoQbaqie
“The university has engaged the residence’s management on this, and security was subsequently withdrawn from the building. Allegations were made around eleven students. Since Wednesday morning, UCT has facilitated the removal of nine of these students from the residence,” he said.
Cape Times