THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
14 April 2015
VOLUME 74: EDITION 4
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The Fall of Rhodes, the Rise of Azania IN THIS ISSUE Image: Morema Moloisi
Study Guide Debacle PAGE 2
Parusha Naidoo & Aisha Abdool Karim, research by Yogi Shoba & Robyn Ausmeier n Thursday, April 9th, the statue of Cecil John Rhodes was removed from UCT’s upper campus. The removal coincided with the same date a month ago that UCT student, Chumani Maxwele, protested at the statue holding a board that read “Exhibit White Arrogance @ UCT”. The demonstration went on to gain momentum with an open dialogue taking place on Jammie Plaza on March 12th, an Open Assembly on March 25th and various other dialogues initiated both on and off campus. The formation of the Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) movement was sparked by these events and on March 20th, a march was led by UCT students, workers and academic staff to Bremner Building – which the students have unofficially renamed Azania House. The march subsequently culminated in the occupation of Azania House in accordance with a prior written agreement of UCT management.
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The Statue Falls Senate met at the end of March, where members voted on the recommendation that the statue be removed permanently; with 181 members voting in favour, one against and three abstentions. Thereafter the final decision on
the fate of the statue was made by Council at a special sitting held on Wednesday, April 8th at Allan Cormack House. The Council meeting was suspended after students holding demonstrations outside demanded entry into the meeting, as the closed meeting went over the stipulated time and a decision had yet to be announced. Students entered the space citing that decisions affecting them should be made in their presence. After the initial commotion, the meeting resumed once the majority of the students left the sitting.
181 members voting in favour, one againt and three abstentions After the result of the meeting – to remove the statue – was announced, chairperson of Council, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, noted that the commitment and determination of students informed the final decision. In a press statement Vice-chancellor Max Price said that the behaviour of students at the meeting was unacceptable as it “challenged the authority of Council”. It was further noted that action would be taken against the students involved. Heritage Western Cape (HWC) granted UCT a temporary permit to remove the statue and take it to an undisclosed location due to
concerns that the statue would be vandalised regardless of the final decision made by Council.
commitment and determination of students informed the final decision A permit for the permanent removal of the statue will be considered once an application has been submitted. The application process requires the consideration of public opinion and consultation with anyone invested in the statue. While the past month has seen dialogue and encouragement of the UCT community to contribute their views on the statue, the activities thus far are seen as incomplete as all stakeholders have not been consulted. HWC acting chief executive officer Hannetjie du Preez said that “A recommendation regarding the future of the statue will be submitted to HWC within 90 days”. This is pending a heritage assessment by HWC. The Future of RMF Before the statue was removed on Thursday, April 9th, there was a mass meeting held by the RMF movement. Beginning as a solidarity movement, RMF has focused on issues of institutional racism, curriculum changes, academic staff and workers’ rights at UCT. The mass meeting sought to further consolidate
this commitment while being at the forefront of challenging intersectional problems. A student representative from RMF, commenting before the removal of the statue, stated “The pain of a single black student and the pain of millions of black South Africans has now culminated into the movement known as Rhodes Must Fall”. During her address at the mass meeting, Sivu Siwisa, the founder of alternative LGBTI pride movement Ikasi Pride stated, “The statue falling does not mean the statue just falls. It represents a race issue, a gender issue, a heteronormative issue, a patriarchy issue.” She noted that the fall of Rhodes meant that these issues were being addressed.
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Speaking on the inclusivity of the movement, SRC President Ramabina Mahapa commented, “We cannot allow any form of oppression in this issue.” Mahapa also noted that the statue’s removal would not change the way black students feel on campus, given the psychological effects that result in the “obscuring of our memory and identity”.
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