A student who vandalised the Pride flag mural at North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom with Nazi slogans in early March has been found guilty and sanctioned.
In a statement, NWU confirmed that the student was found guilty of hate speech and malicious damage to property through the university’s internal disciplinary processes. The university also announced that he had been suspended for one year.
“The sanction is a clear message that acts like this, which stand in direct opposition of the NWU’s values and ethos, will not be tolerated,” said NWU spokesperson Louis Jacobs.
The university, which did not name the student, noted that he had appealed the sanction and that the appeal is currently being processed.
It highlighted that “the appeal does not stop the enforcement of the sanction, and the student remains suspended until the appeal process is finalised.”
Jacobs told MambaOnline that the university is awaiting the student’s submission explaining why he believes the sanction is not appropriate. He indicated that time is “running out” for the student to do so and that, should he fail to provide his input soon, “the appeal process will lapse.”
He confirmed that the university had, in addition, also laid a criminal charge of malicious damage to property against the student with the police.
Pattern of Anti-LGBTQ+ Vandalism
On 2 March, the student spray-painted the words “Heil Hitler” and “Nazi” across the rainbow flag, alongside a swastika and the letters “RH”. The student was identified through CCTV footage of the incident.
However, the university was unable to link him to an earlier defacement of the same mural in September 2025, which was not captured by CCTV cameras. In that incident, the perpetrator wrote “F*ck the f*gs”.
Disturbingly, homophobic vandals also defaced Pride murals at the university’s Mahikeng campus in October last year. These repeated hate incidents have left NWU students feeling targeted and vulnerable on campus, a sentiment that NWU was eager to dispel.
“It must be emphasised that as an institution, we pride ourselves in upholding and protecting the dignity of all members of our community regardless of race, political affiliation, religion, gender, or sexual orientation,” said Jacobs.
“Actions and discriminatory conduct aimed at undermining the sense of belonging for our students, staff, and other stakeholders, will not be tolerated.”
One Comment
Homophobia will always be present as human beings are subject to all manner of influences. Education can only do so much to foster acceptance of differences in sexual orientation. Some people are incorrigible, and that’s a sad fact.