Rhodes University students came out in numbers yesterday (19 March) to meet the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela and discuss issues such as transformation, name change and also issues that are affecting black and working class students on campus.

Opening the debate, SRC President Siyanda Makhubo said the SRC had advised that in light of what has been happening across all social media platforms we assemble the University Management and the entire student body on matters relating to transformation.

“We concur with UCT SRC, we concur with UCT Students and Staff that the statue of Cecil John Rhodes must indeed fall with the injustices of our past. Symbols such as statues and portraits speaks directly to the commemoration of the subject in question.”

“With regards to the current state of our University, let me assure the student body tonight that we, your SRC have always and will always derive our mandate from you the student body.”

“It is because of this and because of your experiences and indeed my own fare of shared experiences of being a student of this institution widely captured by the hashtag #RhodesSoWhite, that centred on the mandate of the SRC, we have called this special student body meeting.”

He cautioned the students that the debate should not be used for hate speech directed at anyone, rather it is an opportunity for the Rhodes Community to have a healthy, open and constructive discussion.

“I must also maintain that this is not a matter of the University name, whilst this is part of the discussion we should be speaking about transformation as a whole. The physical transformation (the name of the University), the transformation of institutional culture and transformation of the mind, for a future we all envision for the future of our University.”

A member of the Black Student Movement Thembani Onceya raised the question of cultural suppression. He stated that black students do not feel part of the University.

Another student raised an issue of accommodation and why they have to be forced to go home on short holidays and stated that their parents can’t afford this. Further stating that this is why they feel as black under privileged students they do not belong at Rhodes.

Addressing the students, Dr Mabizela said it is important for an institution of higher learning to engage in issues that are deemed uncomfortable but the uncomfortable should not be associated with negativity because when they deal with these uncomfortable issues that’s when the institution will experience growth.

He further stated that he welcomes this opportunity to engage with the students and hopes that this is the first of many discussions of this nature.

He further said as the Vice-Chancellor of the University he pledges to encourage freedom of expression but the University will not tolerate hate speech and inappropriate behaviour. Everyone at Rhodes must be treated with respect and dignity.

“We have made significant progress in the transformation of the demographic and social composition of the student body. The ‘race’, class, gender, ethnic, national, linguistic, cultural and religious composition of our student population has changed and will continue to change given our imperatives of social equity and social justice,” said Dr Mabizela.

“However, similar levels of transformation have not been witnessed in our staff complement.  In particular, it has been difficult to attract and retain black academic staff. 

“Additionally, the paucity of black and women academics in the higher ranks of the academy is a matter of great concern. We acknowledge our predicament and pledge ourselves to intensified efforts to transform our staff complement,” he added.

Dr Mabizela responded to the issue of name change and commented that the name Rhodes University has become a brand. He added the Rhodes University brand is in total contrast to what Cecil John Rhodes stood for.

He said it would be irresponsible of him to state his views on the matter of the name change since he respects the democratic processes of the University. He said the debate should continue and when discussing this issue and the other issues raised it should be done with an open mind so that it can lead to a new and a transformed mindset.

By Nomfundo Lukwe

Photo by: Thabiso Mafana