Fresh demands hit UCT

Cape Town - 150325 - Pictured is the Rhodes statue prior to a debate on the Rhodes Statue and racialism in UCT. Reporter: Zodidi Dano Picture: David Ritchie

Cape Town - 150325 - Pictured is the Rhodes statue prior to a debate on the Rhodes Statue and racialism in UCT. Reporter: Zodidi Dano Picture: David Ritchie

Published May 21, 2015

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Carlo Petersen

THE Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) movement has issued UCT with a fresh ultimatum – rename three buildings and remove a bust of Jan Smuts from the university grounds.

Only once the demands are met will the movement’s 15 members occupying a UCT building enter into a dialogue with university manage- ment, RMF activist Chumani Maxwele said yesterday.

UCT vice-chancellor Max Price said the students had occupied Avenue House for more than two weeks, making working conditions impossible for the staff.

“We have provided RMF, and those occupying Avenue House, with a dedicated venue in a hall next to Avenue House,” he said.

Price told the students they had to leave Avenue House on Monday, but yesterday UCT spokesperson Gerda Kruger said management was still considering the matter.

“We urge the students to leave the building, which they are occupying illegally,” Kruger said. “This occupation is interfering with the ability of staff members to perform their work.

“We have persisted in attempting to persuade the students to move out. It is unfortunate that they have not done so.”

RMF member Wandile Kasibe said police officers had visited the premises on numerous occasions on Tuesday and yesterday, asking for a list of the names of students using the building.

Kasibe confirmed that 15 to 20 RMF members have occupied Avenue House since the removal of the Cecil John Rhodes statue in April.

He said students moved into the building after they were removed from the Bremner Building, which they had occupied in protest against “slow transformation” at UCT and put pressure on management to remove the statue.

“Some students were issued with notices to appear before a disciplinary hearing and told they face possible suspension, but there are no charges on the notices,” he said.

UCT could not confirm or deny this yesterday, saying only that the matter was still being discussed and a statement would be released today.

Maxwele said: “Once again it’s plain to see these are political intimidation tactics and an attempt to blindside the public to UCT’s inability to properly tackle transformation. There were demands made and these have not been met. We asked for a workable space, not a hall, and we occupied Avenue House peacefully and have not been disrupting staff. We will stay there until Jameson Hall and Jan Smuts Residence, and also the Beattie Building, are renamed. There is also a bust of Jan Smuts which must be removed.”

“When these demands are met, RMF (will) enter into a dialogue about moving into new premises,” he said.

Maxwele, who flung faeces at the Rhodes statue and effectively spurred its removal from UCT’s premises, has been suspended for two months pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing for allegedly racially abusing and threatening a staff member.

He has since lodged a counter-complaint against a lecturer, alleging that he was victimised and racially profiled during an incident on May 1.

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