University of Zululand law student who was taunted and humiliated by her peers for wearing skimpy clothes, called for harsh punishment for those responsible.
The incident happened two weeks ago as Onkarabetse Thebeng, a third-year student, was walking from her residence to a lecture room.
Male students wolf-whistled, while their female counterparts ululated and used their cellphones to take pictures and video clips, which they posted on social media networks.
Yesterday, Thebeng said: “I would like to see those responsible for the incident punished for dragging the name of the university into the mud. They have to be punished so that they will learn a good lesson.”
The Commission for Gender Equality said it had approached the university to express its concern about the incident.
The commission’s spokeswoman, Makhosazana Nxumalo, said they were assured by the university that it had set up a task team to investigate the incident.
“The CGE is very concerned at this reported harassment. Apart from the individual devastation of the young woman concerned, and the impact this incident may have on her dignity, wellbeing and her studies, we are of the view that this kind of behaviour and attitudes of students can easily lead to incidents of sexual harassment and gender- based violence,” Nxumalo said.
Thebeng said she was not too perturbed by the incident.
“Personally I am fine, but I am worried about what if they had done this to someone who is less confident than me and that person was so humiliated that she decided to commit suicide.”
Thebeng said the incident had opened her eyes to how much humiliation women suffer.
“I am now determined to pass my studies so that I can take up cases dealing with women’s issues and discrimination,” she said.
She was adamant she would continue wearing clothes of her choice, whether short or otherwise “as and when I feel like it”.
Thebeng said she will take part in in the university’s Pink Friday campaign, which aims to educate students about sexual choices and other sexual issues.