Students met with the Task Team on Rape Culture on Thursday (28/07) to share and discuss thoughts and ideas about rape culture at Stellenbosch University (SU).

Facilitated by Ms Zetu Makamandela-Mguqulwa, Ombud of the University of Cape Town, this conversation highlighted concerns and general frustrations experienced by students on SU campuses.

"As a country we need to go forward and we need to have these conversations. You need to tell us what it is that you need," Ms Makamandela-Mguqulwa said.

Among others, students made suggestions on how minor mind set changes on campus and residences could contribute to a campus where students would not feel harassed or victimised. These suggestions included gender equality, accessibility of services to victims of sexual crimes as well as educational sessions with new students on how behaviours perpetuate rape culture.

"It is not possible to change cultures overnight. We are all working on how to address issues on our campuses and we already made great strides. We can also assure you that the voices of students are being taken seriously in these conversations," said Dr Birgit Schreiber, Senior Director: Student Affairs and Chairperson of the Task Team. 

The Task Team, that was appointed by the Rector's Management earlier this year to investigate rape culture at the University, met for the first time in March to determine to what extent rape culture exists at the institution. Since then the Task Team made much progress with, among others, practices perpetuating rape culture at the University that were identified and as well as ideas on how to address these practices that are currently being discussed.

A rape culture website  was created and the Task Team welcomes feedback on the website. (Click here for the website on rape culture. )The Task Team will also put out a survey among students to get feedback from a large number of students. The e-mail address for feedback to the Task Team is ttrc@sun.ac.za.