City of shame

The cruelty of the violation some of our fellow residents have experienced at the hands of criminal looters in the past three days has been matched only by the quick response of our town to their plight. Municipal officials have acted quickly in co-ordinating the city’s response and helping bring together the resources of police, emergency services, religious and civic organisations and businesspeople.

The fact that the looters used a rumour as an excuse to commit that crime is a reminder of how dangerous a lack of knowledge can be. And also a reminder of how easy it is to exploit someone who doesn’t know when both they and facts are being manipulated.

Despite the very loud insults and accusations the mob was shouting during their rampage at foreign nationals, speaking on a one to one basis with individuals revealed very different concerns.

“We’ve got sewage running past our homes. We’ve got no toilets. Our homes are falling apart,” one of the group told Grocott’s.

Rhodes University’s week of shutdown will be seen as a landmark cycle of events in the transformation process. A secret start on Monday to erect barricades and shut down the academic programme evolved daily.

Confrontation turned towards respect and unity with the Vice Chancellor notably setting the tone of listening and supporting the student’s demands.

He played a powerful role in getting a fierce police presence to back off from the apartheid style interventions that were seen at Rhodes and at the East Midlands College on the first day.

The shutdown widened daily as it’s focus shifted to broader national solidarity. The apathy of campus was challenged by the inclusion of students, workers and academic staff.

It seems like a long journey from the bleak start to the unanticipated march in Pretoria today that should change the course of tertiary education financing.

That would be a big benefit to all – including the sceptics and those that deride the call for transformation. It evokes the spirit of the students of 1976.