47 rape cases reported on campuses across the country

South Africa’s Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor is organising an emergency crisis meeting with universities after close to 50 rape cases were reported on campuses across the country. Statistics handed to her office by universities and public colleges have revealed that a shocking 47 students were raped last year, writes Bongani Nkosi for The Star.

Pandor disclosed the scary data to parliament as a written reply to questions by the EFF’s Nontando Nolutshungu. The University of Cape Town told Pandor it recorded nine rape incidents last year, making it the institution with the highest number. It was followed by Walter Sisulu University with seven. The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) reported six rapes, there were five at the Nelson Mandela University and four at the University of Johannesburg. Rhodes University and the University of the Western Cape each recorded two rapes. The University of the Witwatersrand, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Durban University of Technology, North-West University, University of Pretoria and Unisa each recorded single incidents.

More rapes may have taken place in that year, as not all higher learning institutions complied with the instruction to supply their figures to Pandor. Universities South Africa, a body representing universities, confirmed it would meet Pandor. Matimba Ngobeni, president of TUT’s student representative council, urged Pandor and university officials to consider beefing up security on campuses.
Full report on the IOL site