Is this Uct Src response to Dr Prices statement on the alleged racist incidents involving UCT students adequate or is it merely a verbose piece that fails to target the real issue at hand?. UCT SRC Statement on the alleged racial and violent attacks implicating UCT stud The University of Cape Town (UCT) Student Representative Council (SRC) has noted with serious concern the recent media articles relating to two incidents where UCT students were allegedly involved in racist and violent attacks. According to media reports, both incidents are alleged to have occurred near a nightclub in Claremont. In the first incident, which occurred in January 2014, it is alleged that a white male UCT student urinated from a balcony onto the head of a black taxi driver and when confronted about what had taken place he is said to have uttered racial slurs. The second incident is reported to have taken place in October 2014 when a black woman, who works as a cleaner, was allegedly brutally assaulted and verbally abused by a group of five white males (one of which a UCT student),when she tried to stop the five assailants from beating others. As soon as the matters were brought to our attention by concerned students and the media reports, we immediately inquired with the Office of the Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr Max Price, on what steps UCT management has taken to address the issue. The VC recently released a letter sent to the SRC outlining the actions UCT has taken in that regard. The SRC awaits the outcome of the court proceedings before making any comments relating to the two incidences. This is in accordance with the legal system of our country that declares people innocent until proven guilty. However, simply disregarding the two incidences would prove damaging to addressing racial prejudices and gender violence that exist on campus. The SRC reaffirms that more should be done by the university to prevent similar cases from occurring. As an SRC, we acknowledge that discrimination of any kind is a global problem and we will do our best, bearing in mind that we are constrained by resources and mandate, to fight it. It must be stated that the SRC is dismayed in that the university has absolved itself of all responsibility in the events that have occurred. The University has not done much to create an inclusive curriculum that redefines the former colonial narrative depicting black people as savages and uncivilised human being. It has now been largely accepted that Africa has a history of its own prior to slavery and colonisation, however this remains largely unknown by students in South African universities. And that is precisely the problem. As an institution of higher learning, UCT must play a leading role in spreading true knowledge about pre-colonial Africa. The work of Dr F.J Nöthling, among others, sheds light on what we mean by true knowledge of pre-colonial Africa. Research carried out by anthropologists, archaeologists and linguists over the past decades has helped historians decipher the remote past of Africa. These are noteworthy developments which highlight that black people today are the product of a past civilisation which contributed immensely to how the modern world is. This is an important consideration because the colonial and apartheid propaganda is still evident in our history books, particularly in high school textbooks and university course content. If you were to read the various articles surrounding the debate on the admission policy and staff transformation, you can clearly notice that there are subtle forms of racial prejudice against black people. And these are from a lack of understanding and knowledge. It is partly this eurocentric approach of our educational system that encourages someone to say that there is nothing wrong with urinating on a black man. This is further encouraged by the colonial institutional culture and symbolism of the institution, which the leadership of the university has done little to address. As an institution of higher learning, we also ought to teach diversity literacy across all faculties. The SRC reflects on its core values of promoting a culture of non-violence and peaceful co-existence, and is committed to fostering an environment free from threats and acts of intimidation and violence. We acknowledge that violence breaches one’s fundamental right to life, dignity, and security. More must be done by the university in protecting these values. Together with management, we must work for change and foster norms which condone violence of any kind. UCT needs to promote efforts in ending cycles of violence and oppression impacting students and staff within the university and society at large. The SRC recognises that there is a tremendous need in addressing issue pertaining to violence, and by working together across organisations we will be better able to address the need. UCT needs to dedicate itself to creating an inclusive advocacy agenda in a safe space for all intersections. Coordination in our advocacy, we must head representation for everyone in all areas of violence and human rights violations. The SRC welcomes the commitment made by the VC in saying “In the first instance, it must be stated categorically that UCT absolutely, utterly rejects racism, violence and discrimination of any kind. There can never be a justification for such behaviour and we will fight it tooth and nail where it occurs. We will bring our strongest disciplinary sanctions to bear on anyone who is found guilty of such behaviour.”
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 11:12:10 +0000
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