UJ distances itself from Malema remarks

Statement by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Ihron Rensburg, University of Johannesburg 

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has noted certain controversial and potentially inflammatory statements made by Mr Julius Malema, ANC Youth League President, on its Doornfontein campus on Monday 8 March.

Mr Malema was on campus at the invitation of the Doornfontein SRC and addressed a group of about 300 students.

The University has refrained from commenting on Mr Malema's statements until now because we wanted to authenticate his comments. This has now been done and the University wishes to distance itself from Mr Malema's statements.

While the University fully supports the right to free speech and encourages it on our campuses, it neither condones nor encourages comments that are potentially inflammatory, provocative and defamatory.

A number of staff and students have registered concern about Mr Malema's statements on the day. Concerns have also been expressed by parents, fee-payers and members of the general public who have read media reports on Mr Malema's statements.

The University is receptive to these concerns and the Executive Management would like to reassure the University's community and the public at large that UJ is determined to uphold the UJ values which includes, integrity and respect for diversity and human dignity, and which run counter to any statements that provoke racial, gender or religious tensions.

Professor Ihron Rensburg
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
University of Johannesburg (UJ)

Statement issued by the University of Johannesburg, March 11 2010

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responses to this article

disappointed in Prof J.Jansen Dear Professor read the above statement and please make alterations on yours viz Malema's leadership skill. by fc on March 12 2010, 06:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Actions vs Words Prof - If you - and apparently inter alia "a number of staff and students" as well "parents, fee-payers and members of the general public" - find the comments "controversial and potentially inflammatory " - then surely in your position as vice chancellor, . .more as a functional memeber of society and as a human being, surely - you should lodge a complaint with the HRC, rather than "distancing" yourself and your organisation as this is akin to turning your back on those staff, students, parents, fee payers and yourself on this matter? . .less by Siyabonga on March 12 2010, 07:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Siyabonga's point Good point Siyabonga. There's no backbone and integrity in the leadership of this country, in education, the churches (besides the Archbishop Emeritus), big business and the ANC. Everyone wrings their hands, putting out half baked meaningless statements . .more of wrist slapping proportions. We need a leader in our country. Preferably a few who aren't intent on making as much money as possible without doing any actual work beyond cruising the dark streets of government tenders and big business back handers and collusion. If the country burns, as it could in a few years time, we cannot say we didn't know the people were getting angry, no matter what spin the ANC attempts to put onto service protests. . .less by Steve on March 12 2010, 08:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Steve That is why one has to respect Zille and others in the DA who actually challenges transgressions in appropriate fora - As well as Tutu, Solidarity, Afriforum and some other civil society organizations. Boesak said it and he is right - it will to a large . .more extent be up to civil society to protect the constitution as the power hungry materialists ("capitalists" as some call them) have no interest at all in the system functioning ethically. The ANC keeps on playing the race card (sad for an organization espousing the Freedom Charter) and liberation struggle card which works like clockwork with the poor undereducated masses and keeps on returning them to office despite the pudding they are making of government. But the wheel is slowly turning. An increasing number of educated Blacks who do not rely on party patronage but on skill, hard work (which also brought them their education)) and guts are starting to question the status quo and naked corruption and ineptness. . .less by Fidel on March 12 2010, 10:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Very wishy washy If the students had chanted "Kill the Vice-Chancellor, burn the campus" would your response have been equally P*******. by Sad Days on March 12 2010, 10:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Jelly Baby and the UJ Interesting! I n real life Julius would never be allowed into a university. He does not have the brains. So why is he allowed to speak at UJ? To show everyboy how stupid he is? Universities were designed by non-blacks, his cars were designed by . .more non-blacks, his homes too, his shoes, his alcoholic beverages, his money, his company, his tenders, his roads, 'planes, trains, busses, bikes, spectacles, everything he sees around him... and he CANNOT STAND THIS! He is jealous. . .less by John Logan on March 12 2010, 11:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Melema day at UJ I have a son at UJ who has now missed a days classes because of this Ahole. What gives him the right, he is not a member of our government, let alone a member of the education department. What gives the ANC(YL) the right to disrupt education to promote . .more the ANC. This was nothing less than a political rally. I have a huge problem with this. Who at the college gave this idiot the right come and broadcast his s##t. Surely this visit must have been sanctioned by someone of higher office at UJ. Surely that person or persons must have realised what the outcome of an event of this nature would be. The officials at UJ are quite obviously oblivious to the political situation at the moment. I can't believe that such people are in charge of higher education in SA. This country can ill afford this c##p. vito . .less by Vito on March 13 2010, 16:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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