COSATU condemns the racists attacks on protesting students at UFS and other universities
The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns the racist attacks on black students by some racist hooligans in the University of Free State and other universities. This arrogant act of bigotry and criminality needs to be dealt with swiftly by the law enforcement agencies. We call on workers and members of the communities to rally behind students against these racists and refuse to allow these universities to be turned into the last outposts of apartheid bigotry.
The recent incidents at UFS, UP and TUT ,where the nation saw students physically attacked follows the verbal and racist insults ,we have seen in the media and social media these past few weeks. These are the early signs of the emergence of a neo-Nazi phenomenon, which is emerging in many European countries and is gaining confidence. This must be crushed and defeated in South Africa.
As COSATU we will fight racism regardless of who is doing it and who is a victim, even if it is EFF ,who are known for their reckless ,unrestrained and over the top rhetoric.
There is no corner of this country that should be treated as a white enclave, where the apartheid racial policies and attitudes still thrive. We should not allow language exclusion of the black majority by any institution and there will be no university in this country that serves the minority at the exclusion of the majority.
The slow pace of transformation of higher education, ineffective land reform process and the failure to change the ownership and control patterns of the South African economy are the real reasons, why the white racist minority feels so emboldened. But the use of violence is the last straw and it’s something that does not just need condemnation but that needs to be fought against. An education system that is structured to serve any minority , needs to be dismantled not reformed.