HETN SUPPORTS UCT STUDENTS IN THEIR LEGITIMATE DEMANDS
15 March 2015
The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) acting on behalf of its alumni members is solid behind the demands of students at UCT. HETN joins students in calling for the immediate removal of the statue of Cecil John Rhodes. The UCT management should stop diverting attention from the real issues and start taking students serious.
Charging students will not resolve the current problems of racism and lack of transformation at UCT. UCT seems to be paying a lot of lip service to transformation through the various policies that are on their website. In reality there is no genuine effort to put the interests of students first. The university must know that it exists for students and should therefore care for its students at all times.
HETN has always said that there are deep seated problems at UCT which require immediate attention. We salute the brave students for taking a lead in the transformation process of one of the most untransformed universities in South Africa.
We are on record saying that discrimination against black academics is very rife at UCT. Dr. Max Price has proved in many ways that he is not willing to change anything. Black academics do not mean anything to him. It is more difficult for a black academic to be promoted at UCT than in other universities. To this extend we submit that Dr. Price will forever be known as a Vice-Chancellor who never cared about black academics.
HETN will not rest until UCT is fully transformed. We will work tirelessly with the progressive student movement at UCT until victory is realized. Our view is that the struggle to emancipate UCT from the clutches of racism is at the highest stage and is about to bear fruits for all students and academics. Our students and black academics within UCT bore the brunt of that struggle.
We call upon all student structures and academics at UCT to unite and increase pressure on UCT from all fronts. The battle cry is one - UCT must transform!
Statement issued by Mr Hendrick Makaneta, Director Alumni Support and Media relations, Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN), March 15 2015
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