Inequality in quotas

THE IMPENDING investigation to prove a syndicate enrolling Indian students as coloured at UKZN is still to be finalised.

When questioning the authenticity of the allegations one needs to consider the credentials and qualifications of the students. Is it justifiable to have an overall score of between 85 and 95 percent or even higher and still be excluded from medical school because of your race?

Are these syndicates that are falsifying the race of students doing an injustice or fighting against institutionalised racism on behalf of the students? The context of my statement is students who have excelled academically but are denied entrance to medical school because of the imposition of quotas. This excludes students who have mysteriously entered medical school with low averages.

Indian students with excellent marks in the region of 85 and 95 percent may become rebellious and harbour feelings of legitimate entitlement by virtue of their excellent academic achievements.

This may even be the catalyst that spurs them on to take what they feel belongs to them even if it means buying a place at medical school just to follow their dreams.

Indian students for some inexplicable reason have to obtain an aggregate score of 91 percent in UKZN while coloured pupils needed a score of 65 percent.

The score decreases exponentially for other race groups.

These inequalities 23 years into our democracy lend credence to the idea that South African society is more unequal now than ever.