Pta law student aids fight against social media bullies

A second-year Unisa law student has spear-headed the fight against alleged social media bullies who threatened to rape a student.

“I went on Facebook and saw screenshots of what these boys said to her,” Monique Kruyshaar said.

Kruyshaar then went onto Instagram – another social media platform – to tell the victim she could help her.

“I knew what these boys were saying was unconstitutional.”

“It is, in fact, online sexual harassment,” she said.

Since then the victim of the alleged harassment has been put in contact with people in the fight against gender-based violence with the assistance of local ward councillor Shawn Wilkinson.

“She is now under their protection, away from harm and in the process of opening cases against these predators and will be getting protection orders,” Kruyshaar said.

The victim also extended her gratitude to all those who had assisted her.

“I would like to say thank you so much to everyone who is willing to help me,” she said.

She said the alleged harassment started after she posted a picture of herself in a march in Cape Town in which she carried a banner that read “leave my vagina alone to social media”.

“The picture went viral.”

“Two guys saw my post and they started attacking me and sending me messages,” she explained.

In a conversation seen by Rekord, one said “I’ll show them what real rape is”, while another said, “get a chastity belt and give the key to your gardener”.

The victim acknowledged that one of the boys and their parents had since apologised.

“One mother, however, said we’re blowing this out of proportion,” she said.

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