“We will not call this a first-year incident. We will call it a racist incident.”
This was according to Queen Majikijela, chairperson of the South African Students Congress Organisation (SASCO), at a demonstration that took place at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) campus following a racist incident at a university residence.
Queen Majikijela, chairperson of the South African Students Congress Organisation (SASCO) at Stellenbosch University (SU), addressed students at a recent demonstration following a racist incident at Huis Marais. “It is time for us to take up space. We deserve to be here just as much as [white students]. We are deserving of an opportunity to the right of higher education as much as these white people,” stated Majikijela. PHOTO: Asive Mabula
This comes after a first-year BA Law student urinated in fellow first-year, Babalo Ndwayana’s room in SU residence Huis Marais on the morning of 15 May.
The law student had since been identified in the media as Theuns du Toit.
Ndwayana is studying agricultural business management. Both students are in the men’s residence, Huis Marais.
According to a statement released by Huis Marais, an emergency meeting was held the evening of the incident, where Du Toit apologised and was then removed from the Huis Marais community.
Residents of Huis Marais held an emergency meeting following the incident involving Theuns du Toit, a student who urinated on fellow student and resident Babalo Ndwayana’s study materials on 15 May. Du Toit apologised before walking out of the residence, saying “I know what I did was wrong and I would like to apologise”. VIDEO: Supplied
“We [black people] are tired, and I emphasise the fact that we are tired,” said Majikijela at the demonstration. “When incidents such as this happen, the university sweeps it under the carpet. The university merely sends out a statement saying they condemn [it].”
Dr Choice Makhetha, senior director of the division of student affairs, attended Monday’s demonstration. At the demonstration, she acknowledged the students’ anger over the incident and said that she is angry as well, as she is part of the group of people that failed Ndwayana.
“Stellenbosch needs to be a welcoming and inclusive environment,” said Makhetha. “Every student who chooses to be here… and, as a university… as a division of student affairs, we all agree that the culture needs to change.”
Makhetha said that she spoke to Ndwayana and that he was still in shock and trying to process what happened.
“I promised Babalo that our office will give him full support, starting with the study materials, including a laptop, that were damaged in the incident,” said Makhetha.
Dr Choice Makhetha, senior director of the division of student affairs, addressed students outside Huis Marais, following the recent racial incident at the residence. Makhetha said the Equality Unit has the responsibility to investigate and make sure that disciplinary processes take place. Makhetha was later booed by students after saying, “When I talk about not looking at issues superficially […] we have to look deeper. What happened to this other first-year to all of a sudden do this?” PHOTO: Asive Mabula
Root out past behaviour, says victim’s father
The victim’s father, Mkuseli Kaduka, stated in a telephonic interview with MatieMedia that [at the time of the interview on 16 May] the university had not communicated with him regarding the incident. When he enquired about the incident via an email to the university on 15 May, he received an automated response, he told MatieMedia.
“The res management moved [Du Toit] from Huis Marais to another residence, which I feel is not the solution at all. You need to root out past behaviour,” claimed Kaduka. He added that he would like the university to expel Du Toit so that another child does not experience what his son experienced.
“This [the racist incident] is taking away from the reason why they are there, which is to study,” said Kaduka.
After the demonstration at Huis Marais, students walked to SU’s Admin B building, where they demanded that the university’s rector and vice-chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, expel Du Toit immediately and address the crowd of students.
The students were then met by Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, deputy vice-chancellor of learning and teaching at SU. “Once the investigation has been undertaken, a decision will be made, and that decision can be afforded expulsion,” stated Ramjugernath.
Du Toit had been suspended on 16 May, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Students gathered outside Stellenbosch University’s Admin B building to demand that the rector and vice-chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, address them and expel Theuns du Toit, who urinated in Babalo Ndwayana’s room at Huis Marais residence on 15 May. PHOTO: Asive Mabula
A media statement was released on 16 May by the university, wherein De Villiers condemned the incident.
“We are appalled by this type of behaviour. Such conduct will not be tolerated at the university,” said De Villiers. “We acted swiftly and decisively to uphold our commitment to a culture of inclusivity. What happened at Huis Marais is not acceptable. No student has the right to diminish another student’s human dignity or rights in this way.”
Ramjugernath promised the students that there will be an outcome by Thursday this week.
A call to disband Huis Marais
“We want to see the decision to disband the [residence] revisited. It is clear that Huis Marais is a space where students who do not respect the human rights of others feel safe,” Viwe Kobokana, SU Student Representative Council [SRC] chairperson told MatieMedia.
Kobokana added that the SRC have met with the victim and are ensuring that his mental health is not neglected while investigations are pending.
*This is a developing story.
MatieMedia reached out to Stellenbosch University for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication of this article.
Thandile Ngxikiwe, a BA humanities student at Stellenbosch University (SU), questioned Dr Choice Makhetha, senior director of the division of student affairs at SU, on what the university is doing to protect black and brown students following the recent incident. Another first-year student who lives at Huis Marais, Ishmael Mabena, confronted SASCO leaders, and explained why reaching a final decision on the outcome of this case by Thursday felt too late. AUDIO: Asive Mabula