DURBAN – Police on Wednesday urged a KwaZulu-Natal student who was allegedly raped or sexually assaulted during recent protests at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus to come forward and open a case.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said: “We appeal to the victim that she must come forward and open a case so that the allegation will be investigated.”
The claim that a student was raped emerged during the protests that have led to the closure of the university’s five campuses until September 20.
Zwane said that the allegation was brought to the attention of the commander of the Alexandra Road Police station, but that as of yet, the victim had not been located and that no case had been opened.
The university’s spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said during an interview that the matter had been reported to the institution’s Risk Management Services, but that the alleged incident had not happened on the campus.
The university has been rocked by protests over fees, living conditions and a host of other issues over the past month.
The protests have resulted in police arresting scores of students in the past three weeks, while the university’s Senate Chambers on the Westville Campus and the law library on the Howard College campus were set alight. Six cars were also set alight on the university’s Westville campus and there have been running battles between students and police.
Social media platforms have been inundated with accusations and counter accusations, with students accusing police of brutality and the university management of failing to address student issues.
– African News Agency
