A 19-year-old Stellenbosch University (SU) female student has been arrested on charges of arson and attempted murder. She allegedly set alight a fellow student’s room in Cloetesville.
Police confirmed the incident occurred on Sunday, 18 October, at a premises in Lackay Street, Cloetesville. A 19-year-old male SU student was injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
In court
The accused appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 20 October, on the charges of arson and attempted murder. Her case was postponed to Monday, 26 October, for a bail application.
University responds
SU confirmed that a student had been arrested in connection with an incident at off-campus student accommodation over the weekend. The University added that the affected accommodation was neither owned nor managed by the University.
“An incident of this nature can have a significant emotional impact, not only on those directly involved, but also on their housemates and other students,” said Dr Leslie van Rooi, Dean of Students.
Staff from SU’s Commuter Student Communities Unit visited the injured student in hospital. They also met with other students at the premises to offer support. The University said it had also enquired about the welfare of the arrested student.
“The University recognises the distress this can cause, and we are making sure that affected students have access to the support they need,” Van Rooi said.
SU said it would cooperate with authorities as required, while its own internal processes would follow in due course. The criminal case is being investigated by Cloetesville police.
