In a tweet from @RAPEDUCT1, the user says they were raped by a University of Cape Town (UCT) professor on the university premises. The user says they were instructed to not report the matter and keep it internal.
The user further added that the rapist is unsuspended and the student was forced to report to the rapist. In addition to this, the university has been accused of funding the perpetrators' legal fees.
UCT says while no specific details have been provided in the tweet, they believe it is related to an ongoing matter at the university. They say it is currently being investigated and must be allowed to conclude. They also add that they have not paid any legal fees of the alleged perpetrator.
They said, “The university is aware that the allegation of sexual misconduct is being investigated by SAPS. The Western Cape Government (WCG) Health is also conducting investigations around this matter”.
The University added that the alleged perpetrator is a joint staff member between WCG Health and UCT, in a relationship governed by a bilateral agreement.
Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice-Chancellor of UCT also responded to the tweet, calling on the student to reveal what her "real agenda" is. She added that the student refused to accept support provided by the university.
However, in a statement released by UCT, they say the student is at liberty to make use of support and referrals to external organisations.
This student has refused help from the university. She must say what her real agenda is. pic.twitter.com/qW61XzgViL
— Mamokgethi Phakeng🏳️🌈 (@FabAcademic) May 18, 2022
“UCT is not at liberty to discuss this further in the public domain but can state that the matter is being dealt with and reviewed by the relevant and appropriate independent investigation panel”, concluded the University.
