Lets unite in fighting racism
IT is with great concern that we note issues faced by black students at Stellenbosch University.
Racism is wrong and should be condemned.
The argument that black students should not apply and accept offers to study at that university because they will face racism shows a deeper problem with our society.
It conveys a message that nonAfrikaans students should expect to be treated like outsiders and face discrimination because of their skin colour and language. It also suggests they should accept it. This view must be challenged.
The country s public universities, to a large extent, already fail to accommodate many deserving students who make it through the hardships of a still untransformed public education system and the South African economy.
And by saying black and nonAfrikaans speaking students should not go to Stellenbosch University, we are putting a tighter limit on the already limited spaces at higher learning institutions.
We are also allowing that public educational institution to be a breeding ground for racist professionals, who fail to embody the principles of a nonracial and inclusive South Africa enshrined in our Constitution.
This cannot be allowed. We have noted the university s language policy is seemingly the cause of much tension.
Black students seldom have English as their home language. But they are challenged to learn in English. Given this, we call for the university and its students to reach a solution that accommodates everyone on the language policy.
This is not an attack on Afrikaans, but a call to bring Stellenbosch University into a country that is trying to transform.
We support multilingualism and believe universities should be vanguards of this principle. But it should not come at the expense of excluding students from a public educational institution.
Universities are meant to be places where young people are developed, conscientised and have narrow ideologies challenged.
But as it stands, Stellenbosch University is failing to deliver on this objective.
We stand in solidarity with the Open Stellenbosch movement and call for transformation at Stellenbosch University.
We are inspired by students who have stood up against racism. These young, courageous voices play a key role in transformation efforts. We hope others will draw inspiration and fight racism wherever it appears.
Nhlanhla Lucky Nkosi Chairperson of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Wits Society
By e-mail