Trigger Warning: This article contains content about sexual assault and rape. Not for sensitive readers.
In May this year, a student from the University of Cape Town took to social media to anonymously claim that they had been raped by a staff member.
A police case had been opened, which was confirmed by the police, and an investigation into the matter began.
The anonymous claims (as posted by an account named RAPED@UCT) expressed that the assault had happened on the premise and that they received threats.
The alleged victim also expressed that they were in witness protection, and that they had reported their case to UCT for months, but their plea was only met with failure to act on UCT’s behalf. This tweet quickly went viral, receiving thousands of reposts.
The account also shared what appeared to be other allegations of rape by a UCT staff member that came from an anonymous source.
UCT responded with a statement to the account’s allegations, and said that it noted the claims with “serious concern”. However, vice-chancellor Mamokghethi Phakeng faced criticism after her response-tweet to the situation the same day.
Some dubbed her as scoffing at the accusations of one of her colleagues, as she questioned the motives behind the tweets. Professor Phakeng later took to apologise, saying that she fully understands the anger that followed her response, as EWN recalls.
In the statement by UCT, it shared that an independent investigation had commenced, which would call on both the SAPS and The Western Cape Government.
The alleged perpetrator was revealed to be a “joint staff member between WCG Health and UCT”, as spokesperson Elijah Moholola shared.
Almost a month later, the investigation’s findings have been revealed.
Professor cleared of claims
The Western Cape Health Department shared that after conducting interviews with identified witnesses, it has concluded that “the evidence had been fabricated,” adding that no material evidence was found to support the “sexual harassment” claims.
Mark van der Heever, department spokesperson, said that due diligence had been followed and the report followed an in-depth probe.
As IOL reports, the professor was never suspended (something vice-chancellor Professor Mamokghethi said the university did not have the power to do) but the student was suspended, on the basis that she had leaked information about the case to the media.
Also read:
Neighbourhood watch members helped Shireen Essop to safety– police shamed
Picture: University of Cape Town / Facebook