Good day everyone. I'm Simbongileuthixo Dlala, a third year student at Rhodes University, and I've been a survivor of harassment and sexual assault. Last year, in March, I was raped by Siyolise Pahla, a fellow student who was a friend at the time. Not only did he take advantage of me, but he also went around telling people we had consensual sex, damaging my reputation. When I confronted him, he apologised months later, but only for damaging my reputation, not for the fact that he coerced me. His apology was vague and didn't acknowledge his wrong doing as it only focused on the reputation damaged. Recently, I shared my experience publicly on social media, and other victims have come forward with similar experiences with Siyolise Pahla , and/or know someone. I'm starting a petition to have him removed from the university because I want to ensure no one else goes through what I did. 

I'm also fighting against rape apologists - people who know about the situation but don't do anything about it. One of my former friends is still friends with Siyolise Pahla and didn't support me , when I called her out publicly, she had her mom to threaten me with a lawyer , making statements that downplayed her daughter's role in supporting a perpetrator. This is especially hurtful because her daughter ( my supposed friend)  has a purple profile picture, symbolising support for women and children affected by violence, including GBV, which President Ramaphosa declared a national disaster during the G20. I quote her moms WhatsApp message , “my daughter did not send Siyolise to rape you, and my daughter is not the one who raped you, don't mess with me I know where you stay at and I also know your grandmother, I will deal with you accordingly", this statement is not only dismissive of my experience, but also intimidating and threatening. It's a classic example of rape culture, where the focus is shifted from the perpetrator's actions to the survivor's response. It's unacceptable that she's trying to silence me and intimidate me into dropping the matter, rather than acknowledging her daughter's role in supporting a perpetrator.

I will be honest and vulnerable in telling everyone  that I'm hesitant to report this to the university's harassment office because I've reported harassment before and didn't get justice or updates on my case. This isn’t to say the institution is not doing its work as I know other people with successful cases, but this is to say I haven’t had the best experience. However , I'm sharing my story and starting this petition to bring attention to the issue and push for action. I'm doing this for myself and other victims who've come forward.In that note, if you're a survivor of sexual assault or know someone who has been affected, please know that you're not alone. If you're willing to come forward and share your experience with Siyolise Pahla , or have any ideas that are supportive to my case , you can text me on my instagram or email me at dlalasimbongile68@gmail.com . Your name will be kept anonymous, but your experience will be used as evidence to support my  case (to other victims).

I hope the university will take immediate action to address the culture of rape and silence on campus. And before I even place my trust to report AGAIN  to the harassment office, I'm trusting the signatures of this petition will place pressure on them to take immediate action. By signing the petition, you are urging that Rhodes university as an institution should do the following :

1. Siyolise Pahla should be removed from the institution immediately 
2. ⁠The university to provide adequate support and recourses to the survivor and other victims who have came forward
3. ⁠The university to take concrete steps to address the culture of rape apologists and silence on campus

I will also be updating everyone  on instagram [simbongile.dlala] ! Also,  receipts and context of this is also on it. Please do take your time and check my instagram highlights THE FIRST ONE.  Thank you so much for the support in advance!