A resident of the Stellenbosch University (SU) residence, Metanoia, was allegedly assaulted after trespassers gained unauthorised entrance to the building, in the early hours of 7 March.
A member of Metanoia’s house committee (HK) has since stepped down, after it appeared that some of the trespassers gained access to the residence through an emergency door after the HK member used it to enter the building.
The HK also released a statement in which it detailed the events and apologised to residents.
Initially, a senior resident accompanied by six people tried to gain access to Metanoia through the turnstile doors, said Leon Rossouw, primarius of Metanoia, during a meeting between Metanoia’s HK and a delegation of the Stellenbosch anti-GBV movement, on 9 March.
Three of the six, accompanied by the senior student, managed to enter the residence.
The security guard on duty noticed that there was a commotion and managed to chase the other three people away.
“By this time, the other four [who entered] had already split up into two groups and went up to the second floor,” alleged Rossouw.
According to Rossouw, the three people who were turned away managed to gain access to the residence at 3:05, through the emergency exit doors on the east side of Metanoia facing Nerina Ladies Residence.
This was after the aforementioned HK member gained access through the emergency exit.
“[They] proceeded to walk around the floor[s] of Metanoia, going into women’s rooms and performing various acts of misconduct,” Rossouw alleged.
One resident of Metanoia is said to have woken up to find one of the trespassers in her bed, at approximately 4:00 on Saturday morning.
“I immediately asked him to leave and he tried to get on top of me in my bed,” she said in a written statement to Rossouw.
An ongoing investigation conducted by SU revealed that the perpetrator was not a student from the university, according to Martin Viljoen, spokesperson of SU.
“A case of trespassing has been opened at the South African Police Service (SAPS) and an alleged sexual assault has been reported to SAPS,” said Viljoen.
The case was confirmed by Captain Natalie Martin of Stellenbosch SAPS.
“The information obtained [through the investigation] does not point to negligence on the part of the security guard – in fact, the guard prevented entrance to at least three people,” said Viljoen.
Discussions are currently taking place to decide on how to move forward with regard to temporary suspension of indicated individuals, according to Viljoen. The victims are supported by the relevant entities, said Viljoen.
According to the statement released by the HK, the senior student implicated in the matter has since left the residence, after the residence head, Gareth Cornelissen, asked the student to voluntarily leave until the investigation has been concluded.
-Hloni Manare and Masego Mafata
The Metanoia Resident crest. PHOTO: Supplied