ANTI LGBTQ HOSTILITY BY THE NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY: WALL OF PRIDE VANDALIZED!

Nozuko Makhaza

A concerning incident has unfolded within the North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus community, where the Wall of Pride, a mural representing the LGBTQ community and first unveiled in May 2021 by the Student Campus Council (SCC), was vandalised by students. News of the vandalism surfaced on 16 October 2025, prompting interviews and reactions across campus.

Lecturer Tshepo Segalwe, described the incident as “a symbol of war,” emphasising the emotional and symbolic impact of the mural.

For many queer students who have long felt unrecognised or unsafe on campus, the Wall of Pride serves as a representation of love, resilience, and visibility.

The university’s core values – diversity, unity, and respect – are now being called into question.

Students and staff have expressed concern that the vandalism highlights a failure to protect every member of the NWU community. While the school governing body has not yet announced consequences or corrective actions, many await a formal response.

This is not the first time NWU has faced such incidents. The Potchefstroom Campus experienced similar vandalism in 2023, and in 2024 a student faced suspension during orientation following an incident related to LGBTQ inclusion.

These recurring episodes have raised broader concerns about the university’s commitment to safeguarding queer students. “The recent vandalism deeply saddens and disturbs me. That wall was never just a mural; it was a symbol of visibility, love, and resilience for queer students who, for so long, felt unseen or unsafe on campus”, Tshepo Segalwe said.

Segalwe further described the act as homophobic, reflecting ongoing prejudice that persists even within institutions that should champion diversity and inclusion, “seeing it defaced feels like a direct attack on everything it stood for. It’s not just vandalism. It’s a deliberate act meant to silence and intimidate”.

A South African Pandemic of Gender Based Violoence

Nolufefe Ludidi

Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be one of the most devastating pandemics affecting communities across the world, and universities are no exception. A recent case at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) has once again sparked national outrage after a student alleged that she was raped by a member of the SRC.

According to the student, the accused, identified as Musawenkosi Gcabashe – a teaching student and SRC member, targeted her after learning she was a virgin through campus-related societies. She recounts that the assault took place in the university library. After reporting the incident to university authorities, she was allegedly dismissed and told the case would be followed up, but no support or progress was provided. When her plea for justice went unheard, the student turned to social media.

Her post quickly gained attention, prompting other students to come forward with additional claims, alleging this was not the first time such misconduct had occurred.

Social media users expressed grave concern, with some stating that “if he did this, our children in schools are in danger,” referencing the accused’s field of study. Others criticised institutional protection, saying, “they hide under the school badge.”

Following the online uproar, it was reported that the university shielded the accused on campus before he was allegedly fetched by his father. This further fuelled public anger and amplified calls for accountability.

The incident ignited large-scale protests, with students calling for a national shutdown to highlight what they describe as a growing culture of violence and impunity. However, Minister Fikile Mbalula dismissed the idea, stating that a shutdown would disrupt preparations for the upcoming G20 Summit.

Women For Change, a civil society organisation advocating against GBV, submitted a formal request for a national “GBV Disaster Shutdown,” but the application was initially rejected. In response, many students and community members joined the demonstrations, while some men’s groups raised parallel concerns under hashtags such as #JusticeForMen and “Men Are Not ATMs,” arguing that abuse affects all genders. Women For Change responded by clarifying that while men do experience abuse, the current crisis of GBV against women is a pandemic requiring urgent focus.