- A 19-year-old woman appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court on Tuesday after a male student was set alight in his room at off-campus accommodation
- The suspect faces charges of arson and attempted murder following the incident on Lackay Street, Cloetesville, on Sunday, 18 October 2026
- Stellenbosch University confirmed the injured student is receiving hospital treatment and offered support to students affected by the incident
Source: Getty Images
WESTERN CAPE — A 19-year-old woman charged with arson and attempted murder will remain in custody over the weekend after her bail application was postponed to Monday, 26 October 2026, at the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court.
The woman stands accused of setting a fellow student on fire while he slept.
Accused appears in court
According to the Daily Voice, the accused made her first court appearance on Tuesday, 20 October, following an alleged attack on a fellow 19-year-old student at privately owned off-campus accommodation in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch. According to police, the male student sustained injuries after his room on Lackay Street was set alight on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Frederick van Wyk confirmed the matter was under investigation. He said an arson and an attempted murder case was registered at Cloetesville SAPS for investigation following an incident on Sunday at a premises in Lackay Street, Cloetesville, in which a 19-year-old male was injured.
Van Wyk added that the injured student was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Stellenbosch University offers support to affected students
Stellenbosch University (SU) confirmed the injured student remains in hospital and said it has taken steps to support those affected. University spokesperson Martin Viljoen clarified that the accommodation in question is privately owned and falls outside the university's direct management.
Despite this, SU's Commuter Student Communities Unit visited the student in hospital and met with other residents at the property. The university also made enquiries regarding the welfare of the arrested student, citing a duty of care to all involved.
Dean of Students Dr Leslie van Rooi acknowledged the broader emotional toll of such an incident.
"An incident of this nature can have a significant emotional impact, not only on those directly involved, but also on their housemates and other students," he said.
See X post on the incident here:
Motive and relationship claims unconfirmed
Social media posts have suggested the two students were previously in a relationship, but neither the South African Police Service nor Stellenbosch University has publicly confirmed this. The motive behind the alleged attack has not been officially disclosed.
The accused remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Her bail application is scheduled to be heard on Monday, 26 October 2026.
Learner arrested for burning fellow pupil with hot water
In other news, Briefly News reported that a 20-year-old female learner was arrested following a shocking incident at a secondary school in Seleteng Village, Lebowakgomo, Limpopo. It is reported that a fellow student was allegedly poured with boiling water. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, 26 October 2025, while learners were camping at the school in preparation for their final exams.
Source: Briefly News