Wednesday, October 29, 2025 will remain a dark day in the history of Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, following the death of Sesethu Enhle Mboza.
This followed an unfortunate incident in which a 19-year-old student of the University was believed to have committed suicide after she was allegedly raped by her fellow male student.
According an advocacy group on the aegis of ‘Women For Change’, Mboza, who became perplexed and withdrawn following her nasty experience, felt she could no longer take it and decided to painfully end her life on October 29, 2025.
In the words of the ‘Women for Change; “After allegedly being raped in October, Sesethu Mbosa opened a case with the police which led the arrest of the perpetrator, but to her greatest surprise, he was released on bail.
“Despite this, the Nelson Mandela University also failed to take adequate action as it allowed her alleged attacker to remain on campus.
“Sesethu Mbosa suffered from severe trauma and panic attacks after repeatedly seeing her perpetrator on campus, the very place where she should have felt safe.
“Women For Change is deeply shocked and outraged that a student charged with rape was allowed to return to campus, the very environment where his victim should have felt protected and supported.
“This is not only a failure of compassion but a complete disregard for the safety and mental well-being of survivors. Where are the Gender-Based Violence policies that universities are required to have in place to protect their students?
“Survivors should never have to relive their trauma by crossing paths with their perpetrators. We call on Nelson Mandela University and all higher education institutions to take full accountability and urgently strengthen their GBV response mechanisms.
“No survivor should ever be left feeling unsafe, unheard, or unsupported within a place of learning. Sesethu’s life mattered. She deserves justice,” the statement said.
