Concerns over student safety at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have intensified following two separate incidents of alleged gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment reported within university residences in July. In a strongly worded statement, the SASCO Wanga Sigila Branch has accused the institution of failing to adequately protect students, arguing that recurring security concerns and delayed interventions have created an environment where students continue to feel unsafe on campus.
The statement follows two incidents that have sparked widespread concern among students and reignited questions about security measures, access control and the University’s responsibility to ensure a safe living and learning environment.
The first incident, reported on 11 July 2026, involved a male student who allegedly followed a female student into the showers at Colline Williams Residence and made unwelcome sexual advances towards her. A video relating to the incident later circulated on social media, prompting widespread discussion among the university community.
According to SASCO, the matter was immediately escalated to the Student Representative Council (SRC), which engaged with the residence cluster coordinator to determine what disciplinary action would follow. The organisation says university officials confirmed that they had initiated the process of terminating the student’s residence placement. SASCO has welcomed the disciplinary process but insists that removing the student from one residence is not enough. The student organisation argues that any individual found responsible for conduct that threatens the safety of fellow residents should not simply be relocated to another university residence, but should face consequences that prioritise the safety of the broader student community.
The second incident occurred on 17 July 2026 and involved an individual working on a construction project behind Unibell Residence. According to SASCO, the man allegedly gained unauthorised access to the Unibell 1 and Unibell 2 residences, where he reportedly sexually harassed several female students. Following reports of the incident, members of the branch leadership together with the SRC Secretary-General responded to the scene. The alleged perpetrator was subsequently located, escorted to Campus Protection Services (CPS) and later handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS). A criminal case has since been opened and the matter is now the subject of a police investigation.
While SASCO welcomed the swift response after the incident was reported, it argues that the focus should now shift to preventing similar incidents from occurring in the first place. The organisation says the University has acknowledged that it has not yet established exactly how the contractor gained access to the residence precinct. For SASCO, that unanswered question lies at the centre of the current debate.
The branch argues that students and residence leadership have repeatedly raised concerns regarding access control at the Unibell precinct, particularly while construction work has been underway. According to the statement, SRC structures, the Accommodation Affairs Council (AAC) and residence committees have consistently warned management about security risks associated with contractors working in close proximity to student accommodation. SASCO believes those concerns were not addressed with sufficient urgency before the recent incidents occurred.
Access control has become one of the central issues raised by the organisation. It argues that the University has previously demonstrated its ability to tightly secure the Unibell precinct during orientation periods through barricades and controlled entry points, suggesting that similar measures could be maintained throughout the academic year. The organisation specifically questioned why stronger access-control mechanisms, including the installation of turnstiles and stricter monitoring of individuals entering the residence precinct, have not been implemented despite longstanding safety concerns.
SASCO further alleges that ongoing maintenance work has resulted in students regularly walking alongside active construction areas, increasing opportunities for unauthorised interactions between contractors and residents. According to the branch, improved physical security infrastructure, better monitoring of contractors and stricter identification procedures are necessary to reduce risks within student accommodation.
The statement also places the recent incidents within a broader history of security concerns at the Unibell precinct. SASCO notes that the area has experienced various safety-related incidents over several years, including harassment, violent crime, firearm-related incidents and, most tragically, the loss of a student’s life. The organisation argues that these recurring incidents demonstrate that student safety cannot continue to be addressed only after public attention intensifies. Instead, it says, security interventions should form part of a sustained and proactive institutional strategy rather than reactive responses to individual cases.
Beyond the immediate investigations, SASCO argues that universities have a legal and moral duty to provide students with an environment that is reasonably safe. Student residences are intended to be secure spaces where students can focus on their studies without fear of harassment, intimidation or violence. The organisation contends that when students begin questioning whether they are safe in their own residences, confidence in the institution’s ability to protect its community is undermined.
The branch has therefore called on UWC management to strengthen campus safety measures through improved access control, increased security presence and greater accountability regarding contractors working within student spaces. It maintains that responsibility extends beyond responding to incidents after they occur and includes implementing preventative measures that reduce opportunities for similar incidents in the future.
At the same time, SASCO has encouraged any student who has experienced sexual harassment, gender-based violence or related misconduct—whether recently or in the past, to report such incidents through the University’s official reporting structures or directly to SAPS where criminal conduct is suspected. The organisation also urged students with relevant information relating to the ongoing investigations to cooperate with authorities to assist in ensuring accountability.
The statement further emphasises that intoxication should never be accepted as a justification for predatory behaviour, stressing that individuals must be held fully accountable for their actions regardless of whether alcohol or other substances were involved.
Ultimately, SASCO argues that the recent incidents should serve as a turning point for student safety at UWC. While disciplinary action against individual perpetrators remains important, the organisation believes lasting change will require stronger institutional safeguards, improved residence security and a renewed commitment to protecting students from gender-based violence. As investigations continue, the University now faces increasing calls to demonstrate not only that it can respond effectively when incidents occur, but that it can prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.