Mother claims racist attack led to her son's room being trashed at Stellenbosch University.
Image: SUPPLIED
An education activist has spoken out in anguish after her son's residence room at Stellenbosch University (SU) was allegedly ransacked on Monday following what she described as an alleged racist incident linked to a heated student football derby.
Vanessa Le Roux claims the incident happened after her son, who coaches student football, became the target of anger from some residence students.
"So, what happened was that my son, last year, coached his res because the first two weeks he was staying in private res and off campus."
She explained how he later moved into the Majuba Men's Residence.
According to her, tensions began brewing when her son decided this year to focus on coaching a Majuba residence team.
"The few boys of colour played before even going to university, so they were really interested, but the white ones were not," she said.
She told IOL that she believes resentment built up ahead of a derby match. On the day of the game, she said the atmosphere felt different.
"For some reason, there was almost like an unusual type of white support."
The match ended, but the tension allegedly did not.
"And then they [allegedly] started shouting like, 'we are wondering where you're going to sleep tonight,'" she claimed.
When her son and friends returned to the residence, they discovered his room had been completely destroyed.
"When they got into the room, the bed was out. His couch was out. The room was trashed. Everything was thrown on the floor," Le Roux said.
She was furious when she learned the residence leadership allegedly knew about the brewing anger.
"The res Primarius (prim) said to him, 'Oh yes, I warned you two days prior that the guys are not happy,'" she claimed.
Enraged, the activist confronted the residence leadership.
"I said, 'who the f*** gave you the right to think that for my child it's a privilege or honour for him to be there,'" she said.
She claimed that the res leader's eyes were filled with hate, leaving her afraid for her son.
Police were called, and she drove to the university herself, determined to take the matter further.
Le Roux, who has been a single mother since her son was 16 months old, also claimed that his life would be in danger if he did not move from the res.
South African Police Service (Saps) spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the matter to IOL.
"Stellenbosch police registered a burglary case for investigation following an incident on March 2, where a residential premises was broken into.
"The complainant saw that some of his furniture was taken. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and no arrests have been made yet," he said.
He appealed to those who may have information to contact the authorities.
Le Roux said her heart has been left broken by the incident.
"I said that if one white child tried to humiliate my son, we're going to have big problems... Our children suffer in these places because they make them think it's a privilege to be amongst them.
"Me and my child will never bow down to any white person."
University spokesperson Martin Viljoen confirmed that the matter is now under investigation.
"SU confirms that an incident in the Majuba Men's Residence on the Stellenbosch Campus is being investigated by the SAPS and is aware that a complaint of unlawful entry and damage to property was laid with the police," he said.
He added that the university has already begun its own processes.
"The university has activated the necessary internal processes and is managing the situation in accordance with its protocols, including an internal investigation, and open engagements with the leadership and residents of Majuba.
"While the university condemns any incident that infringes upon the rights of others, it must also urge respect for its internal processes."
The university has faced global scrutiny before over racism controversies on campus.
In May 2022, it was thrust into the spotlight when then student Theuns du Toit was filmed urinating on the belongings of a black student inside a residence room at the university's Huis Marais residence.
The victim, Babalo Ndwayana, said he woke up to find Du Toit urinating on his laptop and books.
The disturbing video quickly spread across social media, sparking nationwide outrage and reigniting debates about racism, transformation and student culture at the historically Afrikaans institution.
IOL News