Rhodes students invited to Parliament
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police has invited student leaders from Rhodes University to attend hearings on gender and domestic violence.
This is in the wake of the death of student Khensani Maseko, who committed suicide after she was raped, allegedly by her boyfriend in May.
Chairperson Francois Beukman says the aim is to listen to all voices on the quality of action by law enforcement agencies in dealing with gender-based violence and complaints.
"It is essential that the student leadership of Rhodes University and related student role-players should attend the Portfolio Committee on Police hearings on gender violence and the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act on 28 and 29 August 2018," he says.
Parliament says the first day will be dedicated to the students.
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"The first day of the hearings will focus on briefings from the Civilian Secretariat of Police and the management of the South African Police Service (Saps) on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act.
"This will be followed by input from civil society. We especially want input from students and the youth on day one," he adds.
Rhodes has come under severe criticism over the past couple of years, after being accused of not protecting students on campus against gender-based violence.
Students at the university in 2016, went around disrupting lectures where they protested that the university's rape policy and trauma services be reformed.
They claimed that the police isn't doing enough to hold rapists accountable.