The University of the Western Cape has confirmed that one of its students, charged with attempted murder in a gender-based violence incident, has been suspended from campus and all residences associated with UWC.
A female CPUT student is recovering in hospital after being violently stabbed by the 30 year old suspect, her boyfriend, on Saturday morning.
The incident happened at a privately owned residence in Belhar. The female student sustained serious injuries and was transferred to Tygerberg Hospital for emergency surgery, where she is recovering.
She is being supported by CPUT Management and at this stage our focus is on her recovery and wellbeing and notifying her family.
The alleged perpetrator has been arrested and will await a court appearance.
Therapy has been offered to fellow CPUT students who may have been traumatised by this incident, and face to face counselling will be rolled out this week.
Video of the incident made the rounds on social media.
The vice chancellor of CPUT Prof. Chris Nhlapo has lauded the young men who came to the rescue of the female student. The footage from the incident shows how the young men intervened to save her.
Meanwhile, UWC says an urgent Vice-Rector’s Tribunal was called this morning by the Office of the Proctor. The Deputy Vice Chancellor: Student Development and Support, Professor Matete Madiba, presided over the Tribunal and she suspended the student after hearing and viewing evidence.
The Proctor argued that the perpetrator was a danger to fellow students and must be removed from all UWC-associated spaces with immediate effect.
The University has condemned the action and there cannot be any justification for such cruelty.
We wish to extend our thoughts and prayers to the family of the victim who is fighting for her life in hospital, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.
In the last seven months, UWC came together with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Northlink College, the Neighbourhood Watch, Community Policing Forum in Belhar, and SAPS, with each stakeholder committing to working together to address the safety and security of students.
CPUT is our neighbour and students have always interacted and related to each other politically, culturally and socially for so many years. It is therefore important that this relationship assists in many practical ways to address the scourge of gender-based violence and other societal ills.
On Friday, UWC students marched against GBV and submitted a Memorandum of Grievances to the Executive Management of the University.
The protest were in relation to other cases that the Office of the Proctor is busy investigating, including allegations against two SRC Executives.
For gender, sexual, homophobic and transphobic violence emergencies, the following contacts are available:
- The Gender Equity Unit office, +27 21 959 2812
- Campus Protection Services, +27 21 959 2100
- Residential Services Reslife Office, +27 21 959 3556/7
- Centre for Student Support Services, +27 21 959 2299
- After Hour Toll Free, 0800 222 333
