Glenton Matthyse (Source: Facebook)

On Sunday morning three transgender students from the University of the Western Cape were violently assaulted at the entrance of the Chris Hani student residence. Gay rights activist Glenton Matthyse and two other transgender students were hurt when they tried to fight off three attackers. They all belong to the campus support group, Gayla-UWC.

The incident began on Saturday night at the university pub where Matthyse and friends, who were dressed in drag, used the men’s toilet and were verbally abused by patrons. They were allegedly called “moffies”, “faggots”, and izitabane”. They were then followed to their residence where the beating took place.

Matthyse said one friend was grabbed from behind:

She fell to the ground and then [her attacker] dragged her for 2m from the entrance and began a severe physical assault. His two friends pitched in and assisted in assaulting her. I tried to stop them and so did my friends. My legs were covered in blood after they were done with her. We were no match for them.

According to Matthyse a crowd gathered to watch the violent assault while a security guard just stood by – watching the incident but not doing anything.

A university spokesperson, Luthando Tyhalibongo, said an investigation would we held and said the university did not condone violence or any kind of discrimination. His statement, however, did contradict those of Matthyse and his friends.

He said their staff and security actually broke up the fight, and claimed Gayla UWC members insulted the guards. Tyhalibongo also claims Matthyse and his friends were drunk and unruly, and because of this, police were unable to take statements from them.

Matthyse said he and his friends were not unruly.

A Constable Smith, from Bellville South police station, grinned and chuckled when I tried to explain what happened. When I asked him about this he said it was a form of ‘stress relief’.

[Source: News24]