Johannesburg – One unknown social media account, apparently run by a sexual rape victim, has circulated how the University of Cape Town has failed to arrest a professor charged with violating a student.
It is alleged by the many social media account that the victim was allegedly raped on UCT’s beliefs and that the University has failed to suspend the lecturer concerned.
However, the response from the UCT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, has left many people shocked after she tweeted that “the victim had a hidden agenda while doing this and especially after she refused to take assistance from the University.”
@FabAcademic please Mam can you assist this student please 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
— A'ya⚫ (@Ayanda212020544) May 18, 2022
Using the anonymous social media account, the apparent victim alleges that the University has instructed them to keep the matter “hidden” and not report it. They also mentioned that they are under witness protection.
As per the media statement of UCT that the whole matter has been reported to the police station and is subject to considerable investigations, including one suspect with police and via the Western Cape Health Department, to which the alleged perpetrator is a worker of both the government and the University via a bilateral contract.
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
The @Rapeduct1 account is trying its best to get the matter exposed and tweeted last week: “Raped and tortured on premises. UCT aware, VC wants to ensure I’m silenced. One more rape, up for grabs to be silenced and endangered!!” (Sic)
Phakeng was tagged on one of its tweets by the unknown account, and she seemed to scoff at the abuse charges by the student.
In a country where women are raped and slaughtered every day. I don't appreciate this response. I don't blame the victim for not trusting UCT to support her. #IBelieveHer https://t.co/8svJq7LJeS
— Weaponxs'mom (@SilenceEstelle) May 18, 2022
Phakeng tweeted: “This student refused help from the side of University. It’s high time that she needs to speak that what her actual agenda is”.
In one of her, another tweet Phakeng indicates that the student has been refusing help for more than three years. Perhaps she will be going to take help from you. With us, she chose to pop up every now and then to make these charges against me, she added.
Do you know how vile you must be as a human being to say a victim of an ongoing investigation has an agenda? Your statement says she doesn't have to use the school's resources but you turn around and say she has an agenda because of it? No empathy whatsoever https://t.co/oGR7gGYM2V
— MPHO 🌻 (@MphoMoalamedi) May 18, 2022
Phakeng has been widely criticised for her reaction to the allegations.
She must state her “agenda “ la?in the rape capital? Mhhhhh female leader just said that to a rape victim #UCT https://t.co/iKTQGTmV7m
— Nkosiqinisile Mtshali (@mtshaligugu) May 18, 2022
Ma'am,this can't be your response. The statement you have attached clearly states that the perpetrator is associated with the organizations that are supposedly investigating the matter. How do you expect the victim to trust UCT or the other organizations? https://t.co/qw8jcgPOLY
— PortiaRefilweMutobvu (@RefilwePM) May 18, 2022
You’re a terrible person https://t.co/Lfihsy9rMB
— Sive (@Seeeva_S) May 18, 2022
This is exactly why she came to social media. The tone is aggressive non supportive and downright wrong! She knew this what would have happened. She is crying for help that is her agenda actually ❤️ https://t.co/Nfjepm6d64
— Ma’Rhadebe omhle (@SibusisiweGqos1) May 18, 2022
You continue to be a disappointment. Time and time again. https://t.co/sXEet9mgu7
— ZIZI (@MilitantZizi) May 18, 2022
As a vice chancellor who is also a woman in South Africa, your choice of words are so disappointing prof. https://t.co/eGJIP59duF
— Sibo Seale (@SiboSeale) May 18, 2022
I understand you are trying to be assertive but the use of the word "agenda" implies that if student were to come forward she would simply not be helped as she would be victim blames or labelled a liar, this further discourages others from coming forward, do better prof. https://t.co/xH6WwRMaMd
— Guapsexual (@Forty4Kay) May 18, 2022
The statement says that the student is at liberty to choose not to use those services, only for you to accuse them of having an agenda.
It's unsurprising that those services would be rejected if this how the vice-chancellor thinks. You are contributing to a space that is unsafe. https://t.co/hb2a7BJfUd
— Titty Mboweni* (@PearlPillay) May 18, 2022
Meanwhile, in its media statement, UCT did not verify whether the perpetrator had been arrested or not.
However, there are no typical details have been delivered, and the University reasonably understands from some of the data shared via the tweets that this is in relation to an ongoing matter being jointly addressed by specific departments in government in collaboration with UCT.
