Dr Saleem Badat, Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University, called on Rhodes staff and students to actively act against racism, following an incident of appalling racist abuse directed at a senior University academic and his family during the past Inter-Varsity weekend.

The call by the Vice-Chancellor, for members of the University community to act against racism and racial abuse, urges all on campus to embark on a series of activities over three days starting on Monday 24 August, designed to affirm and promote human dignity, human rights, equality, non-sexism and non-racialism at Rhodes.

The call was prompted by the misbehaviour of Rhodes students who as Professor Fackson Banda (of the School of Journalism and Media Studies), his wife and two year old son, were driving through one of the University streets, stood in the middle of the road making rude signs at the family and other motorists. After stopping briefly, and then proceeding to drive slowly past the students, one of them had shouted the racial insult ‘Niggers!’ at the Banda family.

Expressing his deep disappointment at the incident that has been roundly condemned, Dr Badat said in an internal circular, that he was “…hugely distressed by this despicable behaviour. This is an affront not only to an outstanding and respected colleague and his family, but to humanity and all that we stand for at Rhodes University.

“I wish to make absolutely clear that such behaviour will under no circumstances be tolerated. Racism and racial abuse in all its forms has no place at Rhodes University.”

The Banda family has received widespread support from concerned students and staff, who have urged that strong action be taken against all acts of racism and racial abuse now and in the future.

The messages and the calls to action are seen as a reminder that a progressive Constitution and Bill of Rights which guarantees human dignity, human rights, equality, non-sexism and non-racialism, is in and of itself inadequate. Said Dr Badat, “If these hard fought for values and rights are to be real and meaningful, they have to be continuously asserted. This is particularly important given the history of our country and the fact that our democracy is a mere 15 years old.”

The call against racism has also been supported by Prof. Banda who is of the view that ‘during their university years students are meant to cultivate the values of democratic citizenship - tolerance, respect, civility, non-racism, etc. - that they will need to live their adult lives successfully in a multicultural setting’.