ANC will cast out ‘demon of apartheid practices’ at universities

The African National Congress (ANC) said on Tuesday it would ensure that transformation at institutions of higher learning was speeded up‚ including ridding institutions like Stellenbosch University of “the demon of apartheid practices”.

In a statement by the ruling party’s chief whip‚ the ANC said it was “outraged” by a video documentary that went viral on YOUTUBE‚ in which black students detail how they continue to be subjected to racist practices by white staff members and students of the University of Stellenbosch.

“In the video‚ black students share gut-wrenching personal experiences of institutionalised racism‚ discrimination and harassment they continue to suffer purely on the basis of their skin colour. The students are made to feel unwelcome at this previously white only institution of higher learning.

“At this university‚ it has become normal for whites to refer to black students with a K-word; for black students to be physically harassed and verbally abused without any protection or intervention from the university management; for black students to struggle against being forced lectures in Afrikaans that they don't understand‚ and for black students to be regularly made to feel subhuman.”

The statement said “it is disgraceful that more than 20 years into our democracy‚ Stellenbosch University remains an enclave of white supremacy and apartheid culture‚ where young people in the new free South Africa suffer the same indignity experienced by their forebears”.

The ANC said that it viewed the allegations in a serious light and “we condemn them in the strongest terms possible. Such practices are not line with the spirit and principles of our democratic Constitution‚ particularly its Bill of Rights‚ which prohibits inequality and discrimination.

“We express an unequivocal solidarity with the black students at the University of Stellenbosch. We will spare neither strength nor effort in ensuring that transformation at all our institutions of higher learning is speeded up - including ridding institutions like Stellenbosch University of the demon of apartheid practices and all associated discriminatory practices.

“More than two decades into our democracy‚ transformation can no longer be negotiable. It is unacceptable that the students of Stellenbosch University today are made to suffer the same abhorrent conditions the students in apartheid South Africa had to deal with in 1976.

“We will ensure that the relevant parliamentary oversight structure‚ in this case the higher education portfolio committee‚ urgently looks into the matter to get to the bottom of the allegations of racism at the institution.

“The report of the committee would guide Parliament regarding how to intervene decisively to arrest the situation. We believe that the conditions under which these students are forced to live at that university‚ as well as other similar conditions previously reported at other former white-only institutions‚ must be investigated by the South African Human Rights Commission to ensure a long-lasting interventions are imposed on these institutions to change their disgraceful practices.”

RDM News Wire.