DA to meet CPUT management following campus GBV incident

11 November 2023

The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns the deeply distressing incident that occurred over the weekend at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), where a male student stabbed a female student.

Our thoughts are with the victim and the wider student community, we wish her a swift and full recovery.

This tragic event is a stark reminder of the urgent need for heightened security measures on campuses and residences/student accommodation across South Africa. Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a scourge in our society, and our educational spaces should be sanctuaries, free from violence and harm.

The DA calls on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and take decisive action against the perpetrator.

Additionally, we advocate for increased security measures, counseling services, and educational programs that address the root causes of GBV. We call on the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande to roll out the Mentalities programme in collaboration with the Department of Health.

The DA will conduct an oversight visit to CPUT on Tuesday, 14 November with university management to find solutions on the way forward.

It is crucial that our institutions actively work towards creating safer environments where students can focus on their studies without fear. We stand united against GBV and will continue to push for measures that contribute to a society free from violence, especially within our places of learning.

Issued by Chantel King, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education, 11 November 2023