Rumours of an attack on a student on the Rhodes University campus last weekend are false, police have said. Meanwhile Rhodes University has confirmed that a man was injured in an incident outside a university residence.
Rumours of an attack on a student on the Rhodes University campus last weekend are false, police have said. Meanwhile Rhodes University has confirmed that a man was injured in an incident outside a university residence.
In response to a query yesterday from a member of the public, Grocott's Mail investigated the claim that a student returning with his girlfriend from a night out on Friday 29 January was attacked by four men, leaving him with both legs broken and several teeth missing.
Grahamstown Crime Intelligence Officer Captain Milanda Coetzer said in a statement to Grocott's Mail there had been no report to the police of any such assault.
Coetzer said no emergency services were called to assist after an attack on Saturday night, nor was such an incident reported to the police.
"Traffic, fire and ambulance as well as Hi-Tec and SAPS confirm they were never called out to collect, treat, assist or open a docket in this regard.
"The attack is a complete fabrication." However, Rhodes University confirmed an incident on the University campus in the early hours of Saturday 30 January.
Media Relations Officer Catherine Deiner said, "An individual – who is not a Rhodes University student – tried to gain access to his girlfriend's room in Milner House by climbing up the drain pipe on the outside of the building in the early hours of Saturday morning.
"In the process the drain pipe came partly off the wall and the individual fell, injuring himself.
"A CPU guard, patrolling in the vicinity heard the fall, and together with a Hi-Tec guard, found the individual lying on the ground."
Deiner said the incident occurred at 3.20am on Saturday 30 January.
She said, while the female Rhodes student was not harmed, the man was taken to Settlers Hospital. "He has since been transferred to a hospital in Port Elizabeth," Deiner said.
Members of the public had reported to Grocott's Mail that they had heard a about an "horrific attack" on the Rhodes campus.
Details forming part of the false account included that the student had jokingly run ahead, which was why she had not also fallen victim to the four purported attackers.
Speculation about body parts murders were added to the false account, that had four men jumping out of bushes, breaking the man's legs and jaw and pulling his teeth out with pliers.
sue@grocotts.co.za
