LGBTIQ+ students at North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom have been left shaken after a campus Pride Flag mural was defaced overnight with a homophobic slur.
An unknown individual painted the words “F*ck the f*gs” in white across the mural near the amphitheatre, also leaving what appeared to be their initials or signature: “by RH.”
According to Martin Potgieter, an LGBTIQ+ Sociology Master’s student, the vandalism took place sometime between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning.
“I only found out about it on Wednesday morning,” Potgieter told MambaOnline. “The flag was untouched when I left campus on Tuesday at 17:00.”
The Pride mural, first painted in 2019 as a simple striped rainbow flag to affirm LGBTIQ+ identities, has been targeted before. In August 2023, it was scrawled over with white paint. Students later restored it to its current Inclusive Progress Pride Flag design.
In 2024, an NWU Christian student was suspended for disrupting a first-year student orientation programme because it was affirming of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Students React to the Attack
Potgieter admitted that while he usually feels safe on campus, incidents like the defacement of the mural leave him shaken.
“I feel quite unsafe and a bit uncomfortable with the knowledge that people still carry harmful and hateful beliefs that lead to them openly vandalising the campus Pride flag,” he said. “The thing that I really struggle to wrap my head around is how hateful and arrogant someone has to be to even sign their initials.”
Another NWU student, who identifies as gay and non-binary, said the incident left many queer students feeling unwelcome in what should be an inclusive academic space.
They added: “It reflects the ongoing hostility that LGBTIQ+ students face on campus, and it underscores why Pride and visibility remain so necessary in South Africa.”
OUT LGBT Well-being Condemns Queerphobic Act
Sibonelo Ncanana, Project Coordinator at OUT LGBT Well-being, condemned the vandalism.
“As we approach [Africa] Pride Month in October – a time that should be about visibility, solidarity, and celebration – these incidents send a painful message of exclusion and hostility,” Ncanana told MambaOnline.
“While this may seem like an insignificant act to some, it reflects the deep-rooted hate and prejudice that society still holds against LGBTIQ+ communities. Such acts, no matter how small they appear, create environments of fear and exclusion. Universities should be places of safety and open-mindedness, not places where hate is allowed to thrive.”
OUT called on all higher education institutions to actively safeguard the dignity, safety, and well-being of queer students and staff.
University Responds
Potgieter praised the university authorities for their swift response, noting that work to restore the flag was already underway.
In a statement, NWU media spokesperson Bertie Jacobs described the “hateful and derogatory” graffiti as “an unacceptable act that stands in direct opposition to our values and ethos.”
He continued: “As an institution, we are committed to fostering an environment of respect, inclusivity, and dignity for all members of our community. We remain committed to diversity in all its forms; thus, we will not tolerate actions that seek to undermine the safety, well-being, and sense of belonging for our students and staff.”
Jacobs added: “We take this matter very seriously and we will take appropriate steps guided by our rules and regulations.”
The NWU Campus Pride Society also released a statement addressing the vandalism. “We are working closely with campus authorities to address this matter. We are confident that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, and the responsible individual(s) will be held accountable,” said Thabi Radise, Campus Pride Chairperson.
She added: “We understand this act may cause concern, but we want to reassure the campus community that we are committed to creating and maintaining a safe, inclusive environment for everyone.”
