YCLSA calls for the urgent transformation of the University of the North West [Potchefstroom Campus]

The Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba] welcomes the swift and decisive intervention of the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, in the University of the North West [Potchefstroom Campus].

The Campus made headlines early this year when the ‘Heil Puk' Nazi-style fascist salute was used as part of an initiation process in one of the student residence. The minister established a task team to investigate the matter and other issues that were related to transformation at the campus.

We want to applaud the minister who against the wishes of the University Council published the report to the public. The report must be scrutinised by the public and the university must stop hiding behind institutional autonomy to conceal acts of racism. We are both worried and disgusted that the University Council had intended to conceal the findings of the report.

We also condemn the University Council's attempts to dismiss racism including acts of fascism and Nazism as mere cultural practices. As the YCLSA We agree with the Minister that the current Council of the NWU has been heavily influenced by rightwing forces in the form of Afriforum and Solidarity.

The report further strengthens our long-held belief that the university is hell-bent on ensuring that it remains an Afrikaans dominated institution. As the YCLSA we condemn all acts of racism and the use of Afrikaans as a barrier to access for other students who want to access the Potchefstroom Campus.

Unlike under the apartheid regime that campus must belong to all who live in South Africa. This can only be achieved when we stop the use of Afrikaans like it is still 1976. We call for the immediate transformation of that campus to reflect South Africa society's demographics.

Statement issued by the YCLSA Head Office, September 26 2014

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