Rhodes University vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela has called for society to work together to end the scourge of sexual violence and rape.
Dr Mabizela was speaking to #NightTalk's Gugs Mhlungu and Sizwe Dhlomo, as students at Rhodes University demonstrate against alleged inaction over perpetrators of sexual violence at the university.
The demonstrations started after a list of alleged perpetrators of sexual violence at Rhodes University was shared on the university's SRC page.
Student activist Sian Ferguson also spoke to Gugs and Sizwe to contextualise #RUReferencelist and #Chapter212.
Listen to the full conversation below...
Most people believe it (#RUReferenceList) is a list of alleged sexual perpetrators
— Sian Ferguson, student activist
Activists have drawn up a set of demands pertaining to sexual violence on campus. Management did respond to the demands, but the majority of students are not satisfied with the response because not all demands have been agreed to
— Sian Ferguson, student activist
I have had 22 students approach me this year alone (about being sexually assaulted), and the university responded saying they only know of two cases..
— Sian Ferguson, student activist
"The university said they won't give statistics to protect victims' anonymity, but they went and gave excessive detail about my rape
— Sian Ferguson, student activist
We acknowledge we're a microcosm of a society in which sexual assault and rape are very pervasive
— Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Rhodes University vice-chancellor
What we want to do is to lead the society in dealing with issues of sexual violence, crime and rape
— Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Rhodes University vice-chancellor
Chapter 212 have brought forward something which is very important
— Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Rhodes University vice-chancellor
We have set up a task team to look at all our processes and procedures in order to identify if there are any gaps so that we are able to address all of these issues
— Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Rhodes University vice-chancellor
We are prepared to work with students and staff to ensure that Rhodes University is a safe and secure place for all its students and all who work at Rhodes University. But we want to do more
— Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Rhodes University vice-chancellor
Those people who were on the list (#RUReferenceList) were hunted down. It was a traumatic experience for me
— Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Rhodes University vice-chancellor
This article first appeared on 702 : Rhodes VC calls for collaboration to rid society of sexual violence and rape
