Cape Town - Twenty years ago the Truth and Reconciliation aimed at righting the wrongs of the past.
Now some UCT students are calling for a similar commission to right the wrongs that happened during recent protests at the university.
Earlier this year, students erected a shack on the university’s upper campus, in protest against the lack of student accomodation.
The shack was removed by the university and now the Rhodes Must Fall Movement has started a petition calling for a Shackville TRC.
The group aims to get at least 1 000 signatures on their online petition, and yesterday afternoon were not far from their target at 870 signatures.
Rouen Thebus of the movement said they were looking forward to the restorative justice. “Why is it only applied in higher political space and not in microcosm of smaller communities like UCT in reconciling and sorting out differences? Not only to reflect why students have been excluded and suspended and using legal means to suppress activism, but also to put an idea to test that restorative justice will only be applied.”
Thebus said they also received letters of support for their petition.
“As the new generation we are questioning the things that were dismissed to gloss over real serious issues.”
UCT spokeswoman Pat Lucas said they were aware of the petition and the university had responded to a set of demands made by protesters representing the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (PASMA). Their demands included the establishment of “a truth and reconciliation commission premised on amnesty for Shackville and prior events”.
“I reiterate that the legal and disciplinary processes under way must run their course. We are not in a position to reverse the interdict or to withdraw any charges in respect of those who are alleged to have engaged in unlawful actions. The interdict remains as a protection against anyone who wishes to harm the institution by committing unlawful action like arson or destruction of property.”
She said the university was completing disciplinary processes involving 12 students who were accused of breaching the code of conduct, by committing acts like vandalism, arson, intimidation and assault.
“It must be remembered that institutions suffered millions of rands of damage through unlawful actions and it is our duty to protect the legitimate interests of UCT students and staff to the best of our ability.
“I note the suggestion of a truth and reconciliation process and I undertake to present this proposal to the executive of the university for consideration.”
Cape Argus