The University of Cape Town (UCT) has launched an internal investigation into alleged misconduct and sexual assault accusations levelled against the tertiary’s SRC president Mila Zibi.
University of Cape Town SRC president suspended
In a statement released on Tuesday, the university confirmed notice of a viral tweet where a student claims “to have been sexually assaulted and raped by a fellow student.”
The unnamed woman detailed the alleged horrors she suffered at the hands of Zibi, who commands a great deal of power and influence as leader of the EFF’s student wing, in a three-page statement.
According to the student, on 28 October 2021, Zibi allegedly lured her to a dark area near the campus gym, coerced her into drinking alcohol and, without consent, sexually assaulted her.
“I was frozen and I did not know what to do. At no point did I reciprocate or give consent but was scared and felt like I couldn’t fight back and should just let him do what he wanted in hopes that it would be over soon,” the woman recalled.
Following this, UCT’s SRC released a statement confirming the suspension of Zibi and his close friend Sandile Manoane, pending the outcome of an investigation led by the tertiary.
“It must be noted that in this meeting, Mila Zibi stated his refusal to cooperate with the UCT SRC and his disdain towards any support of protest action against this matter,” the student council wrote.
Zibi, who ascended to power in late 2021, has vehemently denied the sexual assault accusations, claiming to have irrefutable proof that will exonerate him from suspicion.
“On the said date, I have flight details which prove that I was not at UCT nor was I in Cape Town. I am also in communication with the UCT office of Inclusivity and Change, and they have confirmed that there is no case which has been opened against me, contrary to what was communicated from the account where the allegations emanate from,” he exclaimed.
Despite accusations from his office, Zibi stressed that he is more than willing to cooperate with the institution in the investigation.
UCT assured students that the probe is being “treated with urgency and taken extremely seriously.”
“We wish to emphasise that the matter is receiving urgent attention at the highest level,” the tertiary said.
You can read the woman’s full account of the alleged sexual assault below:
TW: Sexual Assault
— courage (@_courage___) January 31, 2022
I am a female UCT student who began my first year in 2021 and on the 28th of October I was raped by Mila Zibi two days after the SRC constituted and he became the UCT SRC president. pic.twitter.com/EbpcrawJjF