A group of UCT students have launched a fundraising campaign for pepper spray that will be distributed to girls at the university for protection.
The group, led by Samantha Perkins, 22 and Zoar Lewis, 21, have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to stand up against gender-based violence in South Africa.
They say the initiative aims to honour UCT student Uyinene “Nene” Mrwetyana, UWC student Jesse Hess, as well as boxer Leighandre Jegels, Lynette Volschenk and Meghan Cremer who lost their lives due to senseless acts of violence this year.
Nene, 19, a first-year student at UCT, was raped and killed on August 24 in the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont by a SAPO employee who allegedly confessed in court.
Uyinene Mrwetyana. Picture: Supplied
Her murder has made female students fearful, and they have now demanded that safety on campus and in residences be reviewed.
UCT law postgraduate student Samantha said the drive had so far raised R15 000.
“Nene’s death and that of other girls, including Jesse Hess, have given rise to fear regarding the safety of females on campus and female residences.
“We want women to defend themselves in these troubling times,” said Perkins.
She said their initial target was R30 000 but hoped for more to distribute at least 300 units.
Addressing disgruntled students on Tuesday, UCT vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng said the university intended to improve its security systems and would communicate plans to the student body in due course.
To donate towards the drive visit https://t.co/unHhCoYfhI?amp=1