Fort Hare celebrates centenary despite protests

President Jacob Zuma and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attend the University of Fort Hare centenary celebrations. Picture: @MyANC/Twitter

President Jacob Zuma and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attend the University of Fort Hare centenary celebrations. Picture: @MyANC/Twitter

Published May 20, 2016

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Port Elizabeth – The University of Fort Hare centenary celebrations went ahead on Friday despite student protests on the Alice campus in the Eastern Cape.

Among the dignitaries present at the university’s sports complex for the celebrations were chancellor Makhenkesi Stofile, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle, African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and various MPs.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe spoke as an alumni of the university. Mugabe congratulated the institution on its centenary and reminisced on his own time as a student at the university. “Fort Hare has for the past 100 years been the center of anti-colonial and anti-apartheid regimes. I was politically born and formed my African identity at this iconic institution,” he said.

South African President Jacob Zuma also congratulated the university and gave the audience of about 2500 people a brief history of the university’s heritage.

“Fort Hare is one of the most important heritage institutions of South Africa and on the African continent,” he said.

The the university was an example of “black excellence”. “This institution holds the prestigious feat of being the only institution to have produced five heads of state which I regard as an incredible achievement,” Zuma said.

Earlier, student protesters threatened to invade the sports complex to show their disgruntlement with the management. Students this week went on strike over demands they submitted to management which they say have not been met.

The student bodies’ demands range from meal and transport allowances that have not been granted to an “unfair” increase in university residences fees.

African News Agency

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