Bail granted for alleged campus rape

By Odette Ismail
12 October 2006

A university of Cape Town student charged with raping another student was released on bail yesterday in the Goodwood Magistrate’s court.

The magistrate Johan De Beer warned the 35-year-old man to not go anywhere near the complainant. The state didn’t oppose the bail application due to the accused having a fixed address and a source of income.

De Beer said that rape is a serious offence and that the case would be transferred to the regional or high courts.

The accused did not plead guilty to the rape charge and applied for legal aid. The matter was postponed to November 28.

This alleged rape is believed to have caused frenzy in relation to campus safety. Spokesperson for the university Gerda Kruger told the Cape Times that rape remained a serious concern for UCT and that unreported rapes is a concern.


Some students agreed that the safety on campus was a worrying problem and that rapes often do not get reported. They say even though they have a Campus Protection Service that walk them down at night they feel this is not enough.