How to Report Sexual Harassment at an African University

What counts as sexual harassment on campus

Sexual harassment covers unwanted sexual advances, comments, touching, requests for sexual favors in exchange for grades or opportunities, and repeated unwelcome attention. It comes from a fellow student, a lecturer, a supervisor, or university staff. Power imbalance matters here: a lecturer or supervisor pressuring a student for sexual favors in exchange for marks, a recommendation letter, or a research opportunity is one of the most serious and most reported forms on African campuses.

Physical contact is not required for an incident to qualify. Persistent unwanted messages, sexual jokes that make you uncomfortable, stalking, and exposure to sexual images without consent fall under most university definitions too.

Where to report first

Most public universities in Africa now run a dedicated office for this, often called a gender office, a harassment desk, an equity office, or a student welfare unit. Check your student handbook or university website for the exact name, since it differs by institution. Where none exists by that name, go to the dean of students or the student affairs division, staff there are expected to direct you to the right channel.

• Gender or equity office, where one exists

• Dean of students or student affairs office

• Campus security, for immediate safety concerns

• Student union welfare officer, who will accompany you and explain the process

• Counseling center, for support alongside a formal report

How to file a formal complaint

1. Write down what happened while it is fresh: dates, times, location, what was said or done, and who else was present.

2. Keep evidence: screenshots of messages, emails, voice notes, and witness names.

3. Submit a written complaint to the relevant office rather than reporting verbally only. A written record protects you if the case is contested later.

4. Ask for a reference number or written confirmation that your complaint was logged.

5. Request a copy of the university's harassment policy so you know the stages and timelines ahead of you.

Protection while the case is open

Ask for interim measures before the case concludes. These typically include a no-contact directive between you and the accused, a move to a different class, tutorial group, or supervisor, and, in serious cases, temporary suspension of the accused pending investigation. Request these in writing and follow up if they are not applied within a reasonable time.

Confidentiality rules vary, but most policies limit who sees your complaint to the investigating panel. Ask the office handling your case how your identity is protected during the process, and what happens to the record if the case is dismissed.

Common barriers to reporting, and how to work around them

Fear of retaliation stops many students from reporting, especially when the accused holds power over their grades or funding. Name this concern directly to the office handling your case and ask what protection is in place before you go further. Some universities allow an initial disclosure without opening a formal case, giving you space to ask questions and decide your next step before committing.

Delay is another barrier: students often wait, hoping the behavior stops on its own. Reporting early, even informally, creates a record that supports you if the behavior continues or escalates.

What happens after you file a report

Universities typically follow a standard sequence: acknowledge your complaint, appoint an investigator or panel, interview you and the accused separately, gather evidence and witness statements, then reach a finding and issue a written outcome. Ask for an estimated timeline when you file, and follow up in writing if key stages stall without explanation.

You are usually entitled to know the outcome of your case, even if some details about the accused's sanction stay confidential under staff or student privacy rules. Ask specifically what you will and will not be told at the end of the process.

Reporting on behalf of a friend

You do not have to be the person harassed to report a concern. Most gender and equity offices accept third-party reports, though the office will normally need to speak with the affected student directly before opening a formal case, since the student's consent shapes what happens next. If a friend confides in you, encourage them to make contact themselves, and offer to go with them.

If your report is not resolved fairly

You have the right to escalate if the university handles your case poorly or slowly. Options include the vice chancellor's office, an ombuds office where one exists, the national higher education regulator in your country, and, for criminal conduct such as assault or rape, the police. A university disciplinary outcome and a criminal case are separate processes, and both run at the same time if you choose to pursue them.

Regulators across the continent increasingly expect universities to run functioning anti-harassment systems as a condition of accreditation, so a persistent failure to act on your report is worth raising beyond the campus. South Africa's Commission for Gender Equality is one example of a national body with this mandate: in a report presented to Parliament in July 2025, it found that harassment cases at universities often go unresolved because first-response staff lack training, which discourages students from reporting at all, as Daily Maverick reported .

Support while you go through the process

Reporting is hard on its own. Use your campus counseling center, a trusted lecturer, or a student support group alongside the formal complaint. Support does not require you to have already filed a report.