Outrage as rape-accused CPUT student gets bail

A 24-year-old Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) student accused of raping a fellow student at the Catsville residence in Observatory has been granted bail of R5 000, a decision that has sparked anger among students.

The accused, who cannot be named, appeared for the third time in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the state opposed his release.

The schedule five bail application required the accused to prove that his release would be in the interest of justice rather than placing the onus on the state to justify keeping him in custody.

The alleged rape has sent shockwaves through the CPUT community, igniting protests and renewed calls for stronger action against gender-based violence on campus.

While fewer students gathered outside court compared to last week’s appearance, tensions remained high as many awaited the outcome of the bail hearing.

During proceedings, it was revealed that nearly 1 200 students had signed a petition urging the court to keep the accused in custody.

In an affidavit, the accused, an education student, pleaded for his release, saying his continued detention would jeopardise his studies.

“Should I not be able to write exams I will fail my course and have to repeat subjects in my third year,” he said. He added that he feared losing his academic funding and promised to comply with his suspension from CPUT.

The matter has been postponed to February for further investigation