In a shocking incident that has ignited discussions around race and respect within South African universities, education activist Vanessa Le Roux has voiced her strong outrage after her son’s room was allegedly vandalised by two white students at Stellenbosch University.
The incident, which unfolded on a Monday night following a victorious soccer match, has brought to the forefront ongoing concerns about racism and privilege in educational spaces.
Shortly after 11 p.m., Le Roux received a distressing message from her son, accompanied by a photo of his wrecked room. “Look how they trashed my room,” he wrote, prompting immediate concern and frustration from his mother.
Le Roux, taken aback by her son’s predicament, quickly sought to discover who was responsible for the apparent act of vandalism. Her son responded that he was unaware of the culprits.
After speaking with both his housekeeper and the Prim of House Majuba—the residence chairperson—her son relayed a series of concerning messages from the Prim.
According to Le Roux, this communication shifted the responsibility onto her son, with the Prim insinuating that her son had been warned, claiming that “die ouens is nie happy nie” (the guys aren’t happy).
The tension reportedly stemmed from her son’s decision to coach a soccer team outside of his residence, following a noted lack of interest in the previous year’s residence matches.
Le Roux drove to Stellenbosch the same night after receiving her son’s concerning message, hoping to support him through the ordeal. Upon arrival, she discovered disturbing truths about the incident.
“You wouldn’t believe for how long that Prim lied and said he didn’t know who did it,” Le Roux recounted. “In the meantime, threats were being made to my child that he wouldn’t have a place to sleep that night.” After the celebration of his team’s victory, her son’s room was found in disarray: belongings strewn across the floor, and his bed and couch missing.
Le Roux’s confrontation with the residence leadership revealed further evasion; the Prim initially denied knowing the assailants. “I told him I am tired of this racism and you that still think you can control our children,” she said, emphasising her frustration and the gravity of the situation. Following the arrival of police, she was finally provided with the names of two suspects.
The emotional toll on her son was palpable. “To think of how humiliated my child must have felt when he walked into his room to find it trashed!” Le Roux expressed, angered by the lack of respect shown towards her son and their family’s sacrifices. In her view, the perpetrators acted with a misguided sense of entitlement, infringing on her son’s dignity with their thoughtless actions.
As investigations unfold, Le Roux has made clear her intentions. “At this point, I have no interest in speaking to anyone from Stellenbosch. I don’t have time for fake apologies or over-consistent filthy behaviour towards children of colour,” she stated resolutely. A case has officially been opened with the police, and she calls for immediate action. “I want to see arrests being made today,” she affirmed.
Spokesperson for Stellenbosch University, Martin Viljoen said police were investigating the incident. A complaint of unlawful entry and damage to property was laid with SAPS after a student’s room was entered without his permission overnight.
“The incident apparently stems from a disagreement at a soccer match between the Majuba residence and an opposing team and was reported to the Residence Head in the early hours of Tuesday morning,” he further explained.
“Staff members of the Responsibility Centre of the Dean of Students were in contact with student leaders this morning to determine the appropriate next steps. These will include gathering all the necessary information in accordance with SU’s applicable governance framework, including the Disciplinary Code for Students of SU.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg told Weekend Argus that Stellenbosch police registered a burglary case for investigation following an incident on Monday, between 19:30 and 23:15, where a residential premises was broken into.
“According to reports the complainant left his place and when he returned to his Victoria Road residence the door was forced open. The complainant saw that some of his furniture was taken. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and no arrests have been made yet,” Twigg added.
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