Black Hand leaving more marks
2003-05-19 08:47
Stellenbosch - The University of Stellenbosch has known of the existence of the alleged vigilante group, The Black Hand, since 2001.
One of the group's alleged victims was said to have been beaten and doused with water in Helshoogte men's residence in 2001.
A complaint was lodged with student affairs head Professor P G du Plessis, but no one was found to be guilty and no one was punished.
The man, who prefers to remain anonymous and is studying elsewhere, told Die Burger on Sunday Stellenbosch University now realised how it felt to be threatened by a vigilante group.
He said: "I was sleeping when eight masked men woke me. They hit me, threw water all over me and broke my computer and radio.
"My parents and I wanted answers. We followed the right channels and laid a complaint, but no one took us seriously.
"When we asked what the university was going to do about it, or if someone knew who the perpetrators were, we didn't receive answers.
Du Plessis told us then the university couldn't take steps, because he didn't know who The Black Hand group comprised."
The student said the university should have taken steps against vigilante groups a long time ago.
"The university doesn't want to find the guilty parties, even though it knows about these things.
"Now, the university is also becoming a victim, because nothing was done in the first instance."
The vice-rector (tuition), Professor Russel Botman, allegedly received a racist letter signed by The Black Hand last week.
His secretary, Sherrill February, opened Botman's letter and a white powder, which the letter claimed was anthrax, spilled on to her.
Die Burger was told February was on antibiotics now and the clothes she had been wearing had been sent for forensic tests.
Kobus Visagie, senior director of corporative affairs at the university, says the university is not investigating the incident.
"We are waiting for the outcome of the police investigation before we decide what steps to take."