Varsity Cup put on hold over safety concerns

Fears of planned violence at rugby matches

FEARS student protesters could disrupt Varsity Cup rugby matches have led to the annual tournament’s organisers calling off next week’s events at universities countrywide.

The matches were to have been played on Monday at UCT as well as universities in Joburg, Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom.

Varsity Cup chief executive Duitser Bosman said they cancelled the matches after rugby fans beat up student protesters who took to the field at a match at the University of the Free State on Monday .

“We do not condone any form of violence, discrimination or disruptive behaviour. The safety of students, players and spectators is of immense priority to us,” said Bosman.

“The current challenges facing universities are a concern. We have compassion and respect for the situation and hope that amicable solutions can be reached with all parties.”

Students protests against university fee increases and outsourcing of campus labour launched late last year continued when the new academic year began.

Postponing next week’s Var- sity Cup matches was meant to “allow universities across the country the opportunity to address various challenges faced at their respective campuses”.

UCT spokeswoman Pat Lucas said their rugby team would have played against the University of Pretoria on Monday.

“Both UCT and the Varsity Cup organisers took safety and security into consideration in light of what transpired at another Varsity Cup match at Free State University earlier this week,” said Lucas.

The University of Pretoria remained closed yesterday following violent confrontations between students as matters took on a racial tone.

Stellenbosch University yesterday referred queries to Varsity Cup organisers while the University of the Western Cape ( UWC) condemned “racist statements and hate speech on campus”.

The university’s spokesman, Luthando Tyhalibongo, showed the media pictures of hate speech against white South Africans spray-painted on campus walls.

“We condemn these cowardly acts committed under the cover of darkness,” said Tyhalibongo. “We are an intellectual home for students from diverse backgrounds, race and gender. Any attempt to threaten our unity by inciting division of our students and staff along racial lines will not be tolerated.”

UWC’s director of sport, Mandla Gagayi, said they were cautious as “what happened in Bloemfontein can happen anywhere”. He said UWC had already hosted a Varsity Cup match and had played two others elsewhere in the country.

“This tournament is very important and sport has always played a role of bringing everyone together. We have done that successfully,” said Gagayi.

“Our matches have not been disrupted. This university won’t panic and fill the stadium with security guards. We may have concerns but we don’t want to make the stadium look like a military base.”

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A joint statement from vicechancellors at universities countrywide condemned the “nature and form of disruptive protests and escalating violence at some of our institutions”.

“It appears that these violent acts are being planned and committed by groups and individuals with a singular intent, to deliberately disrupt and destabilise our universities through intimidation and violence,” read the statement.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation yesterday said it would step in to assist students and resolve the crisis.

It said a “group of likeminded active citizens have joined forces to offer independent mediation, conflict resolution and facilitation services to the universities and student movements that request it”.

“This help will be provided under the name #AccessThuto, meaning ‘access education’,” it said.

“We are at a crisis point and have to act now.”

#AccessThuto would be led by former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro and the foundation’s chief executive Sello Hatang. Neeshan Balton, chief executive of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, would also be among its leadership.

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