Cape Times E-dition

ANOTHER URINATING SAGA ROCKS MATIES

SIPHOKAZI VUSO siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za

ANOTHER black Stellenbosch University (SU) student has opened up about being humiliated by a white student, who allegedly urinated in his room and was only suspended with no further action taken.

While the incident allegedly took place in 2018, the student told the Cape Times the recent viral video showing Theuns du Doit urinating on the study material of fellow student Babalo Ndwayana at Huis Marais residence, opened old wounds.

When Ndwayana confronted Du Toit about what he was doing, he could be heard responding that “it’s a white boy thing”. Du Toit has since been suspended, faces a criminal complaint and could be expelled from the university.

In the wake of this incident, the fourth-year student in the 2018 incident said he was forced to move residences because of a similar experience.

“This was in my first year in Eendrag Men’s Residence. We were having a social event. We were sitting in my room with three friends having drinks. A white Afrikaans guy just came into my room while we were sitting there and started peeing on my door. We confronted him because out of all the rooms he chose mine. We felt disrespected by him because he passed the toilet and came straight to my room.

“He fought with one of my friends and made some racist remarks. I reported him to one of the residence committees.

“He was suspended for a few days and eventually came back. The committee said they were investigating the incident but nothing happened after that. The guy continued staying in residence.”

He said this happened when they were preparing for exams and he decided not to return to the residence the following year.

“I felt that the committee did not care about what had happened to me,” he said. A former student who was staying at the same residence said he did not remember any accountability or reprimand of the white student by the university.

“I'm pretty sure I remember our house father shouted at him, but that's as much as I can recall. It was a hush-hush thing. All I can say is that I can confirm that it did happen and the circumstances surrounding it were very questionable and were very similar to this recent incident.

“At the time I didn't know that this peeing situation could be racially motivated. It was a white Afrikaans boy peeing in the room of a black student.

“But it was not addressed and the conversation about whether it could be racially motivated certainly did not come about the way it is now,” he said.

Stellenbosch University spokesperson Martin Viljoen said they would review records regarding the alleged 2018 incident and respond in due course.

The institution condemned any form of racism or intolerant behaviour based on racial or any other prejudice, Viljoen said.

“Human dignity is nonnegotiable at Stellenbosch University and must be respected, upheld and restored when affected.

Meanwhile Ndwayana's father, Mkuseli Kaduka dismissed a News24 report that he and Du Toit's father were to meet and reconcile.

“There are rumours making the rounds that I'm meeting with the family of the perpetrator to reconcile with them.

“I did receive a call from the boy's father trying to plead his son's case, as any parent would. There are certain forces who are driving their agenda and perpetuating false information.

“I do not have plans to meet with the Du Toits, although they would love for that to happen.

“I'm very much committed to seeing this fight through to the end. If I come out of this with anything it'll be with the dignity of my child restored and the perpetrator facing what's due to him.

“I will not waiver nor yield in my quest to seek justice,” he said.

FRONT PAGE

en-za

2022-05-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://capetimes.pressreader.com/article/281487869958390

African News Agency