Cape Town - The Rhodes Must Fall movement has taken issue with UCT vice-chancellor Dr Max Price’s “reasoning” that a decision over the Rhodes statue has to be taken by the university council, and says the only view relevant is that of black students, workers and staff.
Members of the movement have occupied the Bremner Building since Friday in a bid to force management to accept their demands. Pillows, laptops and bedding lay in the hallways around the Archie Mafeje Room in the building on Monday.
A noose and a white banner with the words “Rhodes must fall” written on it hung over the entrance of the Bremner building.
During a press conference on the steps of the building, student Ru Slayen read out a statement on behalf of the movement.
“Alumni have been e-mailed and asked for input and notice boards have been put up near the statue to allow for comment from the broader student body. This is unacceptable to the black students, workers and staff belonging to this movement. It is absurd that anyone besides those who experience the statue as a violent presence should have any say in whether the statue should stay or not.”
It said white students in particular couldn’t be “consulted in such a process because they can never truly empathise with the profound violence exerted on the psyche of black students”.
The statement said opening the discussion to an “overwhelmingly white and male” alumni would only prejudice black people.
“It is revealing that while black protesters are threatened with and are facing investigations, the racist backlash from white students has been met with silence by the university.”
The movement demanded the UCT management accept that the statue has to fall and that Price call a meeting of the council on Friday to discuss the process to remove the statue.
In a statement on Monday, Gerda Kruger, UCT’s executive director: communication and marketing department, said the university appreciated that the ongoing occupation had been peaceful. “We have had close to 1 000 people sharing their views on the matter with us at the e-mail address: [email protected]. They are presenting ideas and opinions relating to the statue, but also on broader issues of transformation.”
Staff and students were expected to assemble in Jameson Hall on Wednesday to listen to views on the statue and to express their thoughts.
“It is through these discussions that our collective wisdom on the matter is shaped. These debates will inform our thinking and will further shape our emerging proposal to the UCT Council.
“We believe the open discussions and sharing of views in a peaceful, albeit it sometimes uncomfortable space, is what is unique about UCT and is necessary in making sustainable, meaningful changes.”
Cape Argus