Cape Town - Language protesters were invited on Tuesday by the head of Stellenbosch University, Wim de Villiers, to engage in talks about the institution’s transformation.
However, the “open invitation” had received no reply by mid-morning on Wednesday from the demonstrators, who are seeking a “complete revolution” at the university and a change in its policy of using Afrikaans as the main language of instruction.
The invitation came after yet another day of drama for the university, on and off campus, as allegations of racism were bandied about and the university’s management appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training to explain its stance on transformation.
Protesters from the Open Stellenbosch group, which wants the university to transform and change its official language to English, also held a march on campus during the day.
“We are listening, we are talking. We are committed to open discussion and will continue doing so,” said De Villiers, the university’s rector and vice-chancellor, late on Tuesday.
The university’s management said it would carry on with efforts to engage all stakeholders.
“We urge Open Stellenbosch to enter into constructive discussions with us, from setting the agenda to the terms of engagement.”
The invitation followed earlier failed attempts to include Open Stellenbosch in on-going campus discussions with the wider student community, the university’s management said on Tuesday.
Students from universities across the province gathered at Rooiplein, Stellenbosch, before marching through the town singing songs and brandishing banners with messages that read, “Open up your ancient gates”.
Open Stellenbosch was responsible for the recently released ‘Luister’ documentary, which alleged widespread racism at the university.
The chairman of the Stellenbosch University branch of the South African Student Congress, Chumile Samson, said he chose to do his honours in International Studies at the university so he could be part of a change in policy.
“South Africa as a whole is against this and it is important for all students to come together as we would all like to see change... We want a complete revolution here.”
Samson added that the university needed to realise that it was not a “Europe in South Africa”.
Third year student Nwabisa Janda said those who wanted the language policy to be changed were being unfair to other students.
“There are hardly any Afrikaans textbooks for the Afrikaans kids, and what about the students that are Sotho or Pedi? Most students are here from Joburg and other places that have different languages. We are all struggling.”
Earlier in the day, De Villiers appeared before the National Assembly’s higher education committee to explain the university’s transformation plans and its response to the documentary, which he had found “very disturbing”.
“Hearing these narratives of racism and dehumanisation is really painful to me as a vice-chancellor. I’m not going to defend the indefensible.”
He said the university had acted when incidents of racism were reported and earlier this year terminated the services of a lecturer who had sent a racist SMS.
“Transformation is a top priority.”
Janda, who studies accounting at the institution, said there are interpreters in the Afrikaans lectures but they “are not great”, but said she was there to learn.
“You are given the option when you come here if you want to be in an Afrikaans or English class, but in third year there is no option. You know that English and Afrikaans are the only options before you (come) here,” another student Nolwazi Mthimkhulu said.
“It’s not about being black or being white. I have to self-study, because I know what I am here for.”
Students from UCT joined in Tuesday’s 500-strong march, calling for a change in Stellenbosch University’s language policy and transformation at all universities. UCT Political Science student Athenkosi Manikavana said she supported Stellenbosch students’ efforts to change the language policy.
“I think it is unfair that one student pays the same amount as other students who speak Afrikaans but doesn’t understand it; that means that that student has to work twice as hard.”
In defence of the university, De Villiers told the education committee that some issues had to be pointed out. These included that some of the cases featured in the video related to the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, which did not fall under the auspices of Stellenbosch University.
“There is a perception in the video and on social media that Stellenbosch University management refuses to listen. This is simply not true.”
He said Open Stellenbosch had refused to acknowledge and engage with legitimate university structures.
He said the university was implementing a policy which would afford English and Afrikaans equal status.
Cape Argus