The North-West University (NWU) is once again grappling with the spectre of homophobia after another LGBTQ+ Pride flag wall was defaced, this time at its Mahikeng campus.
The incident, which follows the recent vandalism of a similar Pride mural at the Potchefstroom campus last month, has raised serious concerns about the persistence of anti-queer bigotry within the institution.
Pride Mural Targeted During Pride Month
The vandalism occurred as South Africa marks Pride Month. Students and staff discovered the Pride flag wall on the Mahikeng campus spray-painted with the words “we not gays” on Monday morning.
The mural, unveiled in 2021 through a collaboration between the Student Campus Council (SCC) and the Student Development and Counselling Centre, features the rainbow Pride flag along with an explanation of the symbolic meaning of each colour.
Just last month, the Pride flag wall at NWU’s Potchefstroom campus was similarly defaced with a homophobic slur. An unknown individual painted “Fck the fgs” in white across the mural and signed it “by RH.”
In response to the Potchefstroom incident, students staged a demonstration against campus homophobia, while the university condemned the vandalism and promised an investigation. However, no one has yet been held accountable.
Students Condemn the Hate
The Students’ Campus Council (SCC) has strongly denounced the latest act of vandalism at Mahikeng, describing it as “not only an attack on the queer community but also an attack on the values of respect, unity, and diversity that define our university.”
“The SCC does not support or tolerate any form of discrimination, hate speech, or violence on our campus,” the council said in a statement. “Such actions are unacceptable and stand in direct opposition to the inclusive environment we strive to maintain for all students.”
The SCC pledged to work with university management to ensure that a “thorough investigation is conducted, and those responsible are held accountable.”
It also called for greater support for affected students and renewed efforts to strengthen educational initiatives promoting inclusion and mutual respect.
University Vows to Act – Again
University spokesperson Bertie Jacobs confirmed what he called the “cowardly act of vandalism” in a statement to MambaOnline, saying it “stands in direct opposition to our values and ethos.”
“As an institution, we remain committed to fostering an environment of respect and inclusivity,” said Jacobs.
“We pride ourselves on upholding and protecting the dignity of all members of our community, regardless of race, political affiliation, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. We remain committed to diversity in all its forms; thus, we will not tolerate actions that seek to undermine the sense of belonging for our students, staff, and other stakeholders.”
Jacobs added that the university would conduct an investigation and that “the perpetrators will be punished in accordance with our rules and regulations.”
A Pattern of Queer Hostility
Despite repeated assurances from NWU leadership, the vandalism of a second Pride flag mural in just one month suggests a deeper, systemic problem of queerphobia on its campuses.
The Potchefstroom Pride mural was previously vandalised in 2023, and in 2024, a Christian student was suspended after disrupting a first-year orientation event for being inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community.
In December 2024, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) released a report revealing widespread sexual harassment, poor policy implementation, and institutional failures to protect students at South Africa’s universities, including NWU.
The CGE’s findings highlighted the ongoing marginalisation of vulnerable groups, particularly LGBTQ+ students, and underscored the urgent need for stronger accountability, awareness, and inclusive leadership in higher education.
A Call for Accountability and Inclusion
Acts of vandalism targeting queer visibility are not simply isolated incidents — they reflect a climate of intolerance. Universities, which should be centres of learning, safety, and equality, must do more than issue statements of condemnation.
They must take visible, decisive action to protect LGBTQ+ students and staff, implement concrete inclusion policies, and hold perpetrators to account. True transformation requires courage — not only from queer students who refuse to be silenced, but from institutions that claim to stand for equality.
