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EFF students prevent white students from accessing UP campus: FF Plus requests investigation and reminds students of their rights

The FF Plus today sent a letter to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Ms Nompendulo Mkatshwa, requesting that incidents of racism and intimidation at the Hatfield campus of the University of Pretoria (UP) should be thoroughly investigated.

It appears that dissatisfaction arose in the first week of September when the EFFSC’s campaign for the student council elections was, according to some students, disruptive and intimidating.

As a result of this campaign, the EFFSC’s candidates were disqualified and could not obtain seats in the student council.

When classes commenced on 25 September after a short recess, the EFFSC advertised a protest march against so-called racism. The march from the Loftus Park Shopping Centre to the Hatfield campus occurred on Tuesday 26 September.

When students dressed in EFFSC uniforms arrived at the campus, they blocked the gates and prevented white students from either entering or exiting the campus. Picketing students called out slogans targeting AfriForum Youth.

Individual students, regardless of whether they are affiliated with AfriForum or any other organisation, were pushed around and warned not to enter campus.

There were not enough picketing students to guard all the gates, so certain white students were indeed able to attend classes or go home.

Such conduct is deplorable on any given day, but even more so at the end of the academic year. It may quite possibly jeopardise an entire year’s worth of hard work.

The FF Plus urges white students to remain calm while bearing in mind that, according to section 12 of the South African Constitution, they are entitled to the right to freedom and security of the person, and the right to bodily and psychological integrity.

They are, furthermore, also entitled under common law to protect themselves, their property and fellow human beings.

The FF Plus requested the Portfolio Committee to invite the UP’s management, EFFSC and AfriForum Youth to come and explain what led to such unacceptable conduct.

It is vital to ensure that universities that are stable and providing excellent education can continue to do so.

However, it also makes sense that more and more students and prospective students are considering attending private universities, like Akademia. Higher education provided by the state seems to be increasingly affected by disruptions of this kind.

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