“Rape culture is real. For women, it defines how we actually live our lives because there’s always a fear factor,” said Prof Amanda Gouws, South African Research Chairs Initiative chair in gender politics at the department of political science at Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Jean-Marie Uys
A former Stellenbosch University (SU) student and Majuba resident who has been accused of sexual assault is expected to appear in the regional court again on 1 September. This will be his fourth court appearance.
This is according to Capt Nathalie Martin, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Stellenbosch. The case was reported on 18 May at Stellenbosch SAPS, according to Martin.
The student was found guilty of sexual misconduct by Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC) on 4 August and has since been expelled. He was granted until 17 August to appeal the CDC’s findings and sanctions; and he appealed, according to Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson.
More than one apple to cultivate a culture
Focusing on one male perpetrator of sexual violence as the only bad apple in the basket normalises rape culture, according to Prof Amanda Gouws, South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChi) chair in gender politics at SU’s department of political science.
“It’s not only that there are a few bad apples,” said Gouws.
The national average of rape cases reported annually over the last decade amounts to 42 559, according to SAPS’s annual crime statistics report for 2020/2021. The first quarter of 2022’s national crime statistics indicate a 13% increase in reported rape cases.
“Stellenbosch is no stranger to the statistic of rape. It’s been going on for years and is still happening today,” said Kayla George, a psychology masters student at Stellenbosch University researching the prevalence of rape myths in residences and private student organisations. GRAPHIC: Sourced/SAPS
Rape myths are everywhere
Gouws conducted a survey with a national sample indicating that rape myths are “quite prevalent”, she said.
“You hear rape myths everywhere – like talking about how girls are asking for it because of [their] dress, or asking what girls expected to happen when [getting] drunk,” said Kayla George, a psychology masters student at SU researching the prevalence of rape myths in residences and private student organisations (PSO) in Stellenbosch.
Rape myths are sexist misconceptions aimed at victims that often lead to the mistreatment or misjudgement of rape cases, according to George.
Rape victims should not be blamed for crimes committed against them, said George.
South Africa is considered the rape capital of the world and the prevalence of gender-based violence can be traced back to power dynamics and taking advantage over another, according to Kayla George, a psychology masters student at Stellenbosch University researching the prevalence of rape myths in residences and private student organisations in Stellenbosch. AUDIO: Jean-Marie Uys
The problem rooted in residences
“It’s not only rape myths but also the entitlement to women’s bodies that’s very often perpetuated by residences,” said Gouws. “We have to raise consciousness and change attitudes about it.”
Part of normalising rape culture is that there are far more sanctions for racism than there are for gender-based violence, said Gouws. Her comment follows a reference to a racist incident at SU’s Huis Marais male residence, which took place two days before the sexual misconduct at SU’s Majuba male residence.
Gouws has often experienced resistance from residences when hosting rape culture workshops, she said.
“It’s very important that men understand that they are part of the problem – it’s not only women who have to fight against sexual violence,” she said.