Lerato Mbhiza
The man captured on video viciously stabbing a woman, said to be his wife, several times at a student residence in Belhar in the Western Cape on Saturday morning has been arrested and is in hospital under police guard.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said a 30-year-old man was arrested and the Belhar police registered an attempted murder case following a stabbing incident where a 26-year-old woman student was injured.
“Circumstances surrounding this stabbing incident are under investigation. The injured victim was transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Investigations continue,” said Van Wyk.
A spokesperson for the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Lauren Kansley said the university offered assistance to students who may have been traumatised by the incident.
“The incident happened at a privately owned residence. The female student sustained serious injuries and has been transferred to Tygerberg Hospital for emergency surgery.
Gasant Abarder, the spokesperson for the University of Western Cape where the attacker is alleged to be a student, said they condemned any act of gender-based violence.
“At a time when UWC pronounced its zero tolerance for gender-based violence and communicated its condemnation of any acts of gender-based violence and femicide, it notes a disturbing report of the stabbing of a female CPUT student on 11 November 2023. It is alleged that the student’s spouse, who is a UWC student, stabbed her at her South Point residence.
The incident has sparked outrage, with the DA saying it would visit the university on Tuesday to meet with university management.
“Heightened security measures on campuses and residences must be prioritised. Our thoughts are with the victim and the wider student community.
“The DA calls on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and take decisive action against the perpetrator,” it said.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has welcomed the arrest of the suspect.
“Minister Nzimande welcomes the swift response of law enforcement agencies in arresting the perpetrator who, according to the video footage in circulation, was so merciless and barbaric in committing the crime against his spouse.
“Minister Nzimande urges all institutions working with Higher Health (which oversees wellness at higher education institutions) to continue working collectively in implementing programmes towards addressing the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence within the Post School Education and Training system,” said spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi.
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