Students occupy Rhodes University over alleged sex offenders
Updated | By Jacaranda FM News
A group of students at the Rhodes University have occupied the Administration Building and disrupted several lectures in protest over rape culture at the university.
This comes after a list with the names of 11 alleged sex offenders was posted on social media.
According to reports, a group of students marched to several residences looking for the alleged offenders.
Students have given university management until 4.00pm to respond to their demand for rape to be taken more seriously on campus.
Smh pic.twitter.com/0rwBAlCwmn
— Mamiya (@Sia_Mausi) April 18, 2016
Students at Rhodes library #RUreferencelist pic.twitter.com/PLYVzYJNJ6
— Oppidan Press (@oppidanpress) April 18, 2016
JacarandaFM News spoke to a student who said this protest action was not a spur of the moment thing.
"Last night students mobilised and went to fetch three of the perpetrators on the list and they were holding them captive until the university took us seriously and called the police," she said.
The student said only one police officer gets called out when a rape is reported, but ten show up when students protest against rape.
"This is not just a cause that affects the minority. This is a cause that affects every single South African," she said.
Students are occupying the Council Chambers in the Admin Building. #RUreferencelist pic.twitter.com/IS6vhKzDiL
— Activate (@ActivateOnline) April 18, 2016
Meanwhile, the police has urged people to reports cases of sexual assault so they can be investigated.
Police Captain Marli Govender said the police was monitoring the protest action, which has been calm.
"We are busy with an inquiry at this stage, I think there is just one victim that is speaking to us at the moment...we are dealing with that at the moment," Govender said.
Govender said they have not seen the list of alleged offenders.
"We have a team from our Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit visiting the university and they are going to interview people there who have complaints," Govender said.
#RUReferencelist pic.twitter.com/qvySxiN0NK
— Mamiya (@Sia_Mausi) April 18, 2016
(Photo via Twitter: Oppidan Press)
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