“Like…All this killing wouldn’t be necessary if you had just GAVE BACK THE LAND!!!!” (sic). Divisive and racist remarks like this one by Nokuthula Ligege, Primaria of Wag-‘n-Bietjie hostel on the campus of the University of the Free State (UF), that stir up, support and justify hate and violence is unacceptable in a free and democratic society and must certainly not be tolerated by the country’s higher education institutions, like the University of the Free State, says Tammy Wessels, national youth leader of the FF Plus.
The FF Plus sent an official letter with regard to Ligege’s statement to the rector and vice-chancellor of the UF, Prof Francis Petersen, demanding that disciplinary action be taken against the student.
“The UF responded by indicating that a process of restorative justice was initiated and that the student has been reprimanded.
“A simple reprimand is not acceptable. Ms Ligege is the Primaria of a hostel, which is a position of leadership and by extension she is also a staff member of the UF. When an employee transgresses an institution’s code of conduct and rules as well as the laws of the country, drastic disciplinary steps must be taken against that person.
“After the incident earlier this week, all hostel residents were invited to attend a dialogue where Ligege’s statement was discussed and where the residents could voice their opinions. Ligege, however, did not attend the dialogue because she had apparently gone home.
“How can a process of restorative justice and disciplinary action, by means of a reprimand, be successful if the wrongdoer is not even present?
“The UF has a reputation for taking swift and severe action when white students commit racist offences.
“The FF Plus demands that the UF will use the same measure of punishment for the case in point and that there won’t be double standards,” said Wessels.
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