In what was apparently a bid at amateur activism, the female student posted a picture  in which a young girl is allegedly shown engaging in sexual activities with an older man.

Rhodes University media and liaison officer,  Zamuxolo Matiwana, said  university officials were unaware of the incident, and that he was therefore unable to comment.

Posted at about 9pm on Monday, the photo carried a message from the student explaining her motives.

“pls dis pic need to be forwarded until it gets to d (the) parent of d (the) girl. And pls people be careful who u leave ur child with. It could be uncle, house help etc,” (sic) she said. “So pls rebroadcast until it gets to d (the) parent cos d (the) freak needs to be arrested” (sic).

Benjamin Fogel, another student at the university, saw the post and  reported it to Facebook.

The post was removed shortly thereafter.

Fogel said the picture had been circulating via e-mail  to raise awareness around child porn.

Shortly after the photo was posted, the student in question apologised.  

Her apology was posted on the page by fellow student, Matthew de Klerk, as she had by this stage been banned from posting further content: “my apologies bwt the post earlier on the src page, ddnt mean any harm, ddnt knw it wrong as in my mind i thought it would help if someone knows the child as it was meant to be a broadcast.#my apologies” (sic).

 Many members of the page condemned the girl for posting the picture, regardless of her intent. But some defended her,  saying   it was wrong to “shoot the messenger”.

“Lebsie le Awesomish” urged  Rhodes University students to “turn (their) heads to what’s really important here,” and discuss how awareness of paedophilia could be raised in a legitimate and effective way.