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3 lecturers probed over sex for marks

THREE lecturers from the Walter Sisulu University campuses in Mthatha are being investigated for allegedly soliciting sex from students for marks.

University spokesperson Angela Church confirmed yesterday that a lecturer from the Nelson Mandela Drive campus was suspended amid these allegations last year. He is also not permitted on the university's premises.

"A total of three other cases, including this most recent one, are presently being investigated for similar allegations at the Mthatha campus.

"The lecturer in this recent case has already been suspended pending a disciplinary enquiry," Church said.

She said the university had adopted a zero tolerance to any form of intimidation towards its students and staff.

According to Church, the university code of conduct states that staff are to "... refrain from acts of intimidation and victimisation ... and not to have inappropriate sexual or other social relationships with the students or employees under their supervision".

Church also urged students to expose such transgressions.

"We would urge any student who has been victimised in any way to report the matter to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

"It will be in the students' interest to assist the university management to root out this behaviour, and this can only be done with the cooperation of the students who have complaints," she said.

A final-year student said her friend was once given a question paper and a memorandum the night before students wrote final exams.

"I saw it with my naked eyes, I could not believe it. I knew she had an affair with the lecturer, but I never thought he would go that far," she said.

The Commission for Gender Equality has strongly condemned the events unfolding at the campuses.

Commission spokesperson Javu Baloyi said: "Our legal team in the Eastern Cape has contacted some of the alleged victims to begin a process of talking to them.

"We want the full might of the law to take its course, and if the alleged perpetrators are found guilty, they should be taken off the system."

Classes were interrupted last week after vice-chancellor Marcus Balintulo made comments about the lecturers who were allegedly sleeping with students.

On Thursday, the irate lecturers boycotted classes and demanded that Balintulo apologise to them.

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