THE doors of learning and culture shall be opened to all. So runs the Freedom Charter. And fair enough, but we were just wondering, here at the Mahogany Ridge, what if the doors were built by a reprehensible colonialist?
This, apparently, has been the source of much anguish for political science student Chumani Maxwele. So much so that on Monday, he tossed the soupy contents of a Portaloo over the statue of Cecil John Rhodes on the University of Cape Town campus.
The press had been invited to watch and Maxwele dressed for the occasion. Stripped to the waist, he hung two placards around his neck reading "Exhibit White Arrogance UCT" and "Exhibit Black Assimilation UCT".
A pink construction worker's helmet - an indication, perhaps, of the risk of potential injury when mucking about with excrement - topped off the ensemble. Quite why he had wanted to resemble an effigy on a Guy Fawkes bonfire remained a mystery.
As an aside, it should be noted that the last time Maxwele attracted our attention it had also been due to a demonstration of unhappiness - but back then he was presumably more appropriately attired.
He'd been out for a jog on De Waal Drive when he'd allegedly given President Jacob Zuma's siren-blaring motorcade the finger. A black BMW pulled over, three blue light goons waving assault rifles bundled him into the car and he duly spent an uncomfortable night in a Mowbray police station holding cell.