Rhodes VC calls for collaboration to rid society of sexual violence and rape

Rhodes University vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela says that the entire Rhodes University community must work together to rid the institution and society of sexual violence and rape.

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