Published by on

Children are not safe. Students are not safe. South Africa is not safe. Once again, social media has blown up in response to a story of survival which echos the voices of millions across the country. Alexia Weeden, a first year student from Stellenbosch University took to Instagram to warn fellow peers of the violence which laces the streets.

*Trigger warning for victims of assault. 

On October 9, Alexia attended a digs formal — a special occasion where friends come together to celebrate tradition, friendship and varsity culture. Sadly, a night intended for life-long memories ended with Alexia running down Soeteweide street, screaming for help after she was attacked whilst walking home after the event.

Before leaving the formal, Alexia called her friends to make sure that she wasn’t walking home alone, and that people knew where she was. She took precaution.

“They told me they were walking down the same road I was on and were probably 200-metres behind me. I figured my friends were close by and the road was busy with students.”

Alexia walked a little bit slower so that her friends could catch up with her and they could make the journey home together as a group. But she didn’t want to go too far, so stopped outside another popular Stellenbosch residence to wait.

“As a precaution, I put my hand in my bag and grabbed my pepper spray.”

While she waited, Alexia saw a young man approaching who “looked very harmless.” But before she knew it or had time to react, she had a gun to her head.

“I immediately assumed he was trying to mug me, so I threw my bag and phone to the side thinking he would pick up the stuff and leave.”

However, the situation turned from bad to worse when the man pushed Alexia to the ground and told her to open her legs.

“He stuck his hand up my dress. I thought to myself that I would rather die than be raped, so I screamed as loud as I could.”

The scream startled the attacker for a moment, which gave Alexia the split-second opportunity to get up and run.

“As I was running up the road, the only thing I could think about was the fact that a gunshot might go off behind me. I have never in my life felt so terrified and helpless.”

She ran towards a group of young men, also students, who helped her walk the rest of the way home.

Alexia is an incredibly brave survivor who shared her story with Cape {town} Etc with the hopes to raise awareness.

“Considering the circumstances, I’m very lucky that nothing more happened but I’d like to encourage people to be very careful when walking home, especially girls, as incidents like this can be very traumatising.”

How incredibly disappointing that the women of Cape Town should feel “very lucky” after encountering such violation.

Alexia reported the attack to the Stellenbosch Police Department. According to the victim, she was told that “since curfew has been [extended], incidents like [these] have been increasing dramatically and that students should be extra careful.”

However, Alexia was “extra careful”. She was sure to contact friends and even had pepper spray on hand. The streets were alive with activity and the attack still happened.

“I was on one of the safest roads, was less than one-kilometre from home and the road was filled with students that I could hear behind me the whole time. Even with things like pepper spray and tasers, when faced with a gun it’s quite useless, so don’t rely on [these things] to keep yourself safe.”

Alexia wants to emphasise that students need to stick together and look out for one another. Women, in particular, should “never take any chances and must always put their safety first.”

Cape {town} Etc contacted the Stellenbosch Police Department to find out what is being done to protect students and prevent incidents like this from happening in the first place. We are still pending a response.

Stellenbosch University Campus Security offers police escort for students who need to move between campus buildings, or from a building to your car after dark. Call 021 808 2333 or alternatively 021 808 4202 and wait for an officer to join you.

Here are the Stellenbosch University emergency numbers:

  • Emergency number: 021 808 2333
  • WhatsApp: 082 808 2333
  • Enquiries / Reporting / Pedestrian service: 021 808 4666
  • Tygerberg Campus ​Emergency number: 021 938 9507​​

Download the campus safety guide HERE.

Meanwhile, we spoke to the amazing team at Women’s Self Defence classes in Observatory who aim to empower through knowledge, preparation and confidence.

“We’d like women to leave our training with an understanding of the diverse situations that can occur but also that they have spent much training in response to each. That they know the situation, the principals involved, and the solution, that they have enough training to adapt and respond effectively should they be faced with situations they haven’t trained.

“We want them to leave knowing that they can truly defend themselves and others, which means the student gains a new sense of self-respect and confidence. The degree of a person’s confidence and self-respect are present in all their relationships and even their work, and decision making. So a change to these has deep effects. We’d like to dissolve the fear the fear people feel, we don’t want people to walk around feeling fear daily, and if people have been victims of violence we want to help them heal as best as our contribution will allow,” says instructor Jay.

If you would like to attend a class in person, here are the details:

  • Lessons: Every Wednesday at 6.30pm (roughly two-hours long)
  • What you’ll learn: Everything from becoming more aware, more confident, being able to better evaluate a dangerous situation, and even knowing what to expect from an attacker. Prepare to possibly get a few bruises along the way in these lessons, or for being a little (or very) stiff the next day from all the punching, kicking, elbowing, and all the other awesome techniques you get to practice.
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Address: 10 Anson Street, Observatory, Western Cape, South Africa 7925

More places in Cape Town to take a self-defence class:

Pride Fighting Academy 

TrueKrav

  • Contact: 083 304 1981
  • Address: Roeland St & De Villiers Street, Gardens, Cape Town, 8000
  • Website: www.truekravtraining.com

Fighting Spirit Club – Wing Chun Martial Arts

  • Contact: 082 459 4037
  • Address: 54 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8060
  • Website: wixsite.com/wingchun

Chinese Martial Arts and Health Centre Cape Town

Elite Defence Academy Cape Town

Also read:

Why every South African should watch ‘Maid’ on Netflix

Picture: Alexia Weeden (permission of use granted).

Article written by