EFF vows to get rid of Habib

Wits University vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib File picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Wits University vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib File picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Published Aug 28, 2015

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Pretoria - An embittered EFF student command is campaigning for the removal of Wits University vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib after it was suspended from taking part in the student representative council (SRC) elections.

The EFF’s student wing suffered a blow on Thursday when the high court in Joburg ruled that the SRC elections that started on Wednesday should continue without the party.

However, Judge Motsamai Makume ruled that the university lift the suspension of seven students and institute disciplinary hearings against them within 10 days.

The students were suspended last week when an SRC election debate turned violent.

The university originally revoked the status of the student command, but the decision was reversed on Monday.

EFF national chairman Dali Mpofu said the party was satisfied with the court’s decision not to suspend the students.

“Habib is supposed to be a parent to these children. He was arrogant. The most important thing is that the organisation has been unbanned and the students can continue with their studies,” he said.

“The question of the elections, as the judge explained, was the only reason he was unable to give us (a ruling) in our favour. That order was because the elections started on Thursday. We think this is what Habib wanted to achieve, and we hope he can sleep at night.”

Mpofu vowed that the EFF would take over Wits University from the ANC-aligned South African Students Congress when it took part next year. “I want to make two predictions: next year the EFF is going to win those elections. The second one is that when the EFF wins, Habib will not be there. We’re going to make sure of that.”

Student command chairman Vuyani Pambo reiterated Mpofu’s statements that the EFF wanted Habib removed.

“Our determination is that we are going to try very hard to get rid of that Habib person who thinks he is God,” Pambo said, adding that suspending the student command wouldn’t stop the EFF from implementing changes at tertiary institutions.

Mpofu said the students weren’t the cause of the violence at Wits University – university management was.

“People like Habib and the government are very adamant to portray us as a violent organisation. You saw what happened in Soshanguve. We had a peaceful meeting and it was invaded by ANC hooligans. The same thing here. People who are violent are people like Habib who use apartheid tactics when there is a disagreement.”

Wits spokeswoman Shirona Patel said the institution was happy the SRC elections would go ahead as planned.

“We are hopeful and reaching out to all our student societies, in particular the Wits EFF society, to please engage within the rules.”

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The Star

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