Pretoria - Public Protector Thuli Madonsela must unmask the identities of people who masterminded protests and hate speech at the University of Pretoria two weeks ago.
This is according to political movements and civic rights organisations, which have teamed up to request the public protector to investigate incidents of intimidation, hate speech and violence at Tuks.
Madonsela’s spokesman Oupa Segalwe said the complaint was received, but was still being assessed for investigation.
“The outcome of the assessment process will help the public protector to decide whether or not to investigate the matter,” Segalwe added
The complainants are the provincial structures of the SACP, ANC, AfriForum Youth, Cosatu, ANC Youth League, Young Communist League and the South African National Civic Organisation, on behalf of their supporters.
SACP provincial secretary Jacob Mamabolo said the organisations were asking Madonsela to investigate any party or individuals who perpetuated anarchy and disruption.
Mamabolo said they were asking Madonsela to make recommendations on steps that must be taken against the perpetrators of the violence.
AfriForum Youth’s Morné Mostert said they took a decision to jointly make the request with the ANC-aligned organisations to Madonsela because they believed her office would ensure core values of the Constitution were protected.
“The public protector should also investigate threats made on social media platforms against the university, students and employees,” he said.
According to complainants, the temporary closure of Tuks during the unrests as a result of threats to life, bodily harm and property constituted a violation of the constitutionally protected rights of students and employees.
They characterised the chaotic incidents that played themselves out at the institution as acts of “violence, vandalism and hooliganism”.
The violence had its roots in the language policy, particular the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, and the phasing out of outsourcing of general workers. It was initiated by the EFF Student Command.
The unrest ignited a flurry of messages on social media platforms; one of the messages on Facebook perceived to be hate speech was posted by EFF student leader at Tuks Kabelo Mahlobogwane.
The message read: “The whole human race must die. We must kill white supremacy, arrogance and privilege now.
“The time of the revolution is now. There is one race; the human race. #AfrikaansMustFall.”
The message drew several responses.
Pretoria News
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