In the midst of a G20 Women’s Shutdown, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) student community has been confronted with its worst nightmare. At a time when it searches and yearns for hope to be a unified student community, it has in fact located a perpetrator right at the core of the system they believe represents them. Allegedly, a Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) member has been implicated in gender-based harm-specifically rape.
Once again, the student community at Wits showed their agency of being a socially conscious community that doesn’t sit and wait for the “law to take its course”. As urgent as the matter was, so is the action they took. On a Monday and Tuesday evening (10/11/2025 – 11/11/2025), Witsies took it to the street to show their support for the traumatized victims and their frustration of having to witness the inhumane brutally committed against women-young girls.
The university has also acknowledged the situation and has promptly placed the alleged perpetrator on “precautionary suspension” pending a lodge case with the Gender Equity Office.
It’s an alarming case that this happens right at a time when the entire country is trying to send out a message on how unsafe campuses and streets have become for vulnerable women. Their struggle has echoed loud with just this case alone.
As we usually do keep patience with the broken “shining constitution of democratic hope”, this case too is to sit well and play out itself with one of two possible outcomes. First possible likely outcome is that we see the case go cold for numerous reasons ranging from corruption or “lack of evidence”. The second likely outcome is that we actually get to see justice being served and a safer environment ensured for women.
As it stands, however, the traumatic experience lingers heavily for victims and the women that no longer feel safe in education spaces, fun & free spaces, and in their own personal private spaces.
#FreeWomen!!
#CHANGEFORWOMEN
–MediaHouse150