Video sexualising students is degrading, says University of Mpumalanga

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) has condemned a social media video in which a man makes sexual and “degrading” comments about its female students and has demanded he apologise immediately.

This comes after many people who watched the video on social media raised concerns about the safety of female students at the institution.

According to the university, the video was recorded and shared in late 2024. The institution’s spokesperson Tlangelani Ubisi said they disapproved of the man’s comments when the video first appeared online in 2024 and asked him to take it down.

“UMP takes the matter seriously and will not condone the sexualisation, humiliation or degrading portrayal of its students,” he said. “The university calls on the content creator to immediately remove the video from all platforms under their control and to issue a public apology to the affected students and the university.”

Ubisi said the content creator had approached the university under the guise of engaging with students to hear about their experiences at UMP.

“However, the final product of the video contains distasteful sexual comments. The university expressed disapproval of the derogatory comments when the video was shared on social media in 2024 and requested for it to be removed on social media.

“However, the content creator didn’t comply with the request. The university has noted the video has resurfaced on social media.”

The university is also reviewing and strengthening measures relating to access to its campuses and the recording and use of content involving students, with the aim of protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of students while ensuring legitimate engagement with students can continue

—   Tlangelani Ubisi, University of Mpumalanga spokesperson

According to Ubisi, the video creates the impression female students are not safe in at the institution’s campuses “which is untrue … UMP would like to reassure our stakeholders, parents and students that the safety of our students remains an important priority.”

In the video, the man, who claims to be a Nigerian, is seeing arriving at the campus. He said the name of the institution sounds like all the male students have big “cucumbers” and the women have big “nyash” (buttocks). He then approaches a security guard and says he wants to see “the girls’ hostel to see all the girls” as he has a surprise for them.

The security guard takes him to the female residence, but as soon as he has been let in he is stopped and taken to the security manager, who asks him what he wants to do there. The man claims he is making a documentary but the security manager says he can’t give him access.

The security manager puts him on a call with Ubisi, who asks him if he is from the media. He says he is not and claims he has a million followers and is there to speak to students about how they are preparing for exams and so on. He is taken to Ubisi’s office, where it is explained he can’t speak to female students as they are writing exams but he can interact with them on their way out.

The video cuts to a different scene and the man is seen filming women from behind as they walk while saying he thinks they are beautiful but wants to do an experiment to confirm that.

As the video is circulating despite the university’s earlier request for it to be taken down, Ubisi said they are considering legal action and will pursue appropriate remedies.

He said these may include civil proceedings against the content creator and, where legally justified, against people who unlawfully republish or keep sharing the video.

The institution is also looking at a possible crimen injuria complaint against him, and other remedies open to the university and the affected students under South African law, he said.

“The university is also reviewing and strengthening measures relating to access to its campuses and the recording and use of content involving students, with the aim of protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of students while ensuring legitimate engagement with students can continue,” said Ubisi.

Sowetan