Durban - A parliamentary committee has expressed its dismay at the video showing a Stellenbosch student, Theuns du Toit, urinating on the belongings of another student, Babalo Ndwanyana, at the university’s Huis Marais Residence.
Du Toit allegedly urinated on a laptop and study notes.
Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, chairperson of the higher education, science and innovation portfolio committee, said they wanted the university to ensure disciplinary action was taken over the incident, which reportedly took place on Sunday.
“The committee unequivocally condemns this act of racism and discrimination and welcomes the suspension and removal of the perpetrator from the university premises,” Mkhatshwa said.
She said the committee was concerned regarding the institution’s state of transformation.
Ndwanyana’s father, Mkuseli Kaduka, told the Daily News that he was worried about his son’s safety. Ndwanyana was living in fear after receiving threats from fake accounts on Facebook. Kaduka wanted his son to return home to East London until everything died down.
“We are miles apart and we are worried about what might happen to him after being humiliated and exposing this racial slur,” said Kaduka.
His initial reaction when he viewed the video clip was disgust and anger, he said.
“Parents put so much trust in Stellenbosch and expect their children to be kept safe. I am beyond disappointed. Also with the fact that other party’s parents did not reach out to me to apologise after such an inhumane act. Ndwanyana said when the incident happened his reaction was to hit the culprit, but he was advised otherwise by another student.
“When I saw that someone I don’t know, I reached for something, but someone said take a video instead, so that I can report it. It was going to be my word against his, had I not recorded the incident,” he said.
Ndwanyana had opened a case of violation and malicious damage to property.
He said he was traumatised and felt as if he had been stripped of his dignity. Ndwanyana is yet to receive counselling. His laptop has been replaced by the university.
According to an interview with eNCA, the first-year agricultural management student has asked the university for permission to take a break from his studies.
Mkhatshwa said the committee, which visited the university on Monday to receive a briefing on the institution’s transformation journey, noted the call made by the university’s student representative council (SRC) for overt acts of racism and discrimination to be addressed institutionally.
“The committee calls upon the university to conclude its investigation of the incident with speed and make its findings public to reassure the country that it strives for an inclusive student community.
“Justice must prevail for the affected student. The victim must receive the mental health care they need, considering the loathsome ordeal they experienced,” she said.
Mkhatshwa said the committee called on the university’s management, the SRC and the student community to forge alliances to build a non-racial and inclusive institution.
Daily News