Rhodes University has received backlash following its decision to ban Yolanda Dyantyi for life, former Rhodes University student who was banned for life because of her anti-rape activism.
Yolanda Dyantyi has since challenged this ruling. Dyantyi’s life ban was imposed after she was found guilty, in an independent disciplinary hearing in 2017.
“The ban was handed down after being found guilty of acts such as assault, kidnapping, insubordination and defamation for their alleged involvement when, in April 2016, a group of students went to male residences in search of men named on the #RUReferenceList – a list of men alleged to be rapists or sexual assailants.”
The Economic Freedom Front (EFF) has also stepped in to challenge Rhodes University’s decision to ban the student for life. The life ban means that Dyantyi will not be accepted in any learning institution or have the ability to further her studies for the duration of the ban.
On the 11th of September Dyantyi took to social media to say that proceedings have ended and “Deputy Judge President says judgement in the matter of Rhodes and Dyantyi will be ready on the 17th of September”.
In means to give clarity on this matter, the institution has said that Dyantyi’s ban was not based on the online campaign or Protests against Gender-based Violence but rather her being ” found guilty of unlawful acts, including the kidnapping of students, insubordination, assault and defamation “.
According to the EFF, the University should have given Dyantyi the opportunity to cross-examine her accusers and rigorously test their evidence and they further stated that it was unfair for the university to take untested evidence from witnesses.
In closing, the University has said that it will not be engaging in the matter until the judgement is finalised.
