THREE University of Zululand (Unizulu) students were released on R1 000 bail yesterday after being arrested in connection with the gang rape of a 22-year-old student at a campus party at a KwaDlangezwa campus residence nearly two weeks ago.
Mxolisi Ngobese (24), Siyanda Mkhize (24) and Manelisi Ntshangase (29) will now reappear in the Mtunzini Magistrate’s Court on 24 April.
According to bail plea arguments, Ngobese confessed to having had intercourse with the victim, but added that it was consensual.
Mkhize on the other hand refuted the rape allegations, saying he did not have intercourse with the victim.
Outside the court, members of the IFP Women’s Brigade and student movement SADESMO called for the tertiary institution to protect the victim against possible victimisation by the accused.
‘The victim has registered for the 2015 academic year and we call on Unizulu to take the initiative to ensure her safety. We don’t want students to be mobilised to act against the victim,’ said SADESMO Chairperson Sbonakaliso Jobe.
He said the victim was already receiving ‘bad treatment’ from fellow students.
‘There have already been allegations that she was deployed by the IFP to pursue this case to attack the ANC, so her name is being tarnished,’ Jobe said.
Director of Communications and Marketing at Unizulu, Normah Zondo, said the university had already served all three suspects with official letters of intent to suspend them.
‘They are required to respond within seven days to the Registrar. The suspects were released on bail with conditions, to which they are expected to adhere.
‘The university is currently on teaching recess and will reopen on 7 April. The victim has received counselling from our Student Services Division and protection measures have been put in place to ensure her safety,’ Zondo said.
Last week, SADESMO claimed that one of the suspects, Siyanda Mkhize, had been appointed by the university as an administrator.
However, Zondo said he was not a staff member but only a student.
