11 August 2010

The suspension of only black members of the University of Free State Student Representative Council is racist and anti-transformation. Charges against these SRC members are feeble and represent a witch-hunt. This re-enforces our long held view that this institution simply refuses to transform and the installation of a black Vice-chancellor was nothing but cosmetic makeup.

We call on the immediate withdrawal of charges against student leaders and we call for the immediate resignation of Jonathan Jansen. Ever since his installation as Vice-chancellor of the University of Free State, Prof Jonathan Jansen has leapt from one disaster to another. Instead of providing leadership to the institution, Prof Jansen has resorted to dictatorial tendencies.

He continues to behave as though he is a stooge of the white elite within the institution. Rather than act as an agent of change, Prof Jansen has become a toothless Vice-chancellor who acts to legitimize the institution's racism. The recent debacle is the last straw.

This is the last warning to the University of Free State. If this is not heeded, a spate of unprecedented protests will descend on the University. We view this attempt to muzzle the student movement as a declaration of war by the University to which we will respond with all that we have. We believe that it is shocking that after 16 years after the collapse of the apartheid regime the institution uses apartheid terror tactics to silence organizations.

Statement issued by SASCO President, Mbulelo Mandlana, August 11 2010

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