RMF: Dangerous activism that threatens our democratic freedom
17 February 2016
The Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) strongly condemns the violent actions taken by the Rhodes Must Fall movement at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Last night the situation on campus quickly escalated into a violent display of illegal and destructive actions executed by members of the movement.
The issue of accommodation is a legitimate and serious concern that is affecting not only UCT, but campuses across South Africa. Students already face difficult circumstances on campus without having to be further negatively impacted by a movement that seeks to divide students using racial rhetoric and divisive actions.
The actions that we have seen from the Rhodes Must Fall movement undermine our hard-won political freedoms and rights to peaceful civil action.
Burning of artwork and busses threatens to distract from the real issues on campus and is only hurting poor students who rely on the free services provided by the University.