Wits leads the way with sex probe

Following a spate of allegations, Wits University commissioned an independent inquiry into the nature, scale and extent of sexual harassment on its campuses.

The results will shock parents and partners of students studying at any institution, or women in work places.

It was confirmed that “there was indeed a problem of sexual harassment at the university… an inquiry revealed that there is a deficient system, comprising well-meaning individuals who have no training and limited resources to address this systemic problem.”

Sexual harassment at Wits has been in the news for some time. A few weeks ago two senior staffers were fired after being found guilty of doing more than just lecturing to their students.

It is not only at Wits University where such despicable acts happen.

In essence, it is a sad state of affairs when men in positions of power regard their female or junior colleagues as theirs.

President Jacob Zuma, trade unionist Zwelinzima Vavi and former US president Bill Clinton are a few examples of men in power who have abused their status. While they are humans and prone to errors of judgement, sexual harassment has far deeper after-effects and impacts in the lives of the victims.

For the perpetrators, the self-inflicted scandals that ensue often sends their careers and reputations down the drain.

Ask Vavi and Clinton. There are those though, like Zuma, who ‘survive’ with their reputations somewhat in tact.

Wits University has sown the seed: other institutions, private or public, should follow suit and stop hiding sexual predators in their fancy air-conditioned offices.