JOHANNESBURG: A 19-year-old student at Nelson Mandela University, Sesethu Enhle Mboza, has reportedly died by suicide after she was allegedly raped by a fellow student on campus.
According to advocacy group Women for Change, Mboza took her life on October 29, 2025, weeks after she reported the alleged assault to the police.
After allegedly being raped in October, Sesethu opened a case with the police. The perpetrator was arrested but later released on bail,” the group said in a statement on Sunday.
Women For Change accused the university of failing to protect the victim, noting that her alleged attacker was allowed to remain on campus despite the pending case.
Sesethu suffered severe trauma and panic attacks after repeatedly encountering her perpetrator on campus the very place where she should have felt safe,” the statement read.
The group condemned what it described as institutional negligence, saying the university’s inaction showed a complete disregard for the safety and mental well-being of survivors.
It is deeply shocking that a student charged with rape was allowed to return to the same environment as his victim.
This is not only a failure of compassion but also a violation of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) policies meant to protect students, the group added.
Women For Change called on Nelson Mandela University and other higher institutions across South Africa to strengthen their GBV response systems to ensure that survivors receive justice and adequate psychological support.
No survivor should ever feel unsafe, unheard, or unsupported within a place of learning. Sesethu’s life mattered she deserves justice, the statement concluded.
As of the time of reporting, Nelson Mandela University had not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.
