Stellenbosch University (SU) staff members were invited to create a “brave space” to have open and honest conversations about race through the Siyakuhla Diversity Capacity Development Programme.
This is according to Letlonkane Katlego, programme manager in the capacity development division at SU, via email correspondence with MatieMedia.
The Siyakhula workshops are designed in such a way that those who participate are encouraged “to think about their own stories, what they bring with them to the workplace and how they can create better working, learning and teaching environments that embrace and share in the humanity of others”, said Letlonkane Katlego, programme manager in the capacity development division at Stellenbosch University. Pictured above are Katlego (right) and Busisiwe Nkosi, co-facilitator of the workshop and diversity manager at Steyn City School. PHOTO: Tamara Wicomb
Siyakuhla hosted an online workshop, titled “Racism at work: Unpacking racism and workplace culture”, on 25 May, said Katlego.
The unspoken violences
Though this workshop occurred after recent racist incidents transpired at SU, the timing was coincidental, said Katlego.
The “conversation on racism […] raises our awareness of the often unspoken violence that pervades our everyday interaction”, said Katlego. The value of having conversations can never be overstated, as when one knows better, they do better, she added.
“When racism […] or any other forms of bigoted behaviour expresses itself so loudly, as what happened with the urinating student, it saddens and angers us. But within my years of experience, the worst bigotry and racism comes in those unarticulated premises of interaction when you can’t put a finger on why the person is doing what they are doing,” said Thuli Madonsela, professor at SU’s faculty of law and a participant at the workshop.
During a recent online workshop for staff members at Stellenbosch University (SU), Thuli Madonsela, professor at SU’s faculty of law, acknowledged the recent racist incident which occured at SU. “It challenges us as an institution to look at how we deal with the underlying premises that are not articulated on a day-to-day basis, but inform what we do or say,” she said during the session. AUDIO: Tamara Wicomb
Apartheid’s legacy
“When we came into a democracy there was no one who actually taught us how to live together,” said Busisiwe Nkosi, co-facilitator of the workshop and diversity manager at Steyn City School.
“The baggage of apartheid has made us as individuals box themselves,” she said. “We box ourselves where we ourselves feel like we are ‘less than’, but at the same time feel as if black professionals are not good enough.”
After reaching freedom and equality, there was no education on understanding diversity and celebrating inclusion, said Nkosi.
Siyakhula programme
The employment equity and promotion of diversity division in SU’s human resources (HR) department, together with the transformation office, run Siyakhula, said Katlego.
“Siyakhula hosts monthly engagements aimed at creating a space for staff to reflect on our SU institutional culture, transformation and visual redress, gender and gender violence, religion and cultural inclusion, disability and decolonial dialogues,” explained Katlego.
The Siyakhula Diversity Capacity Development Programme offers a variety of diversity training opportunities and engagements to enhance one’s diversity literacy, stated Letlonkane Katlego, programme manager in the capacity development division at Stellenbosch University. “This capacity development programme focuses on the three themes of competencies, namely, socio-cultural awareness, intergroup engagement and social innovation and design thinking. Each theme consists of a number of workshops or structured discussions designed to address key employment equity, diversity and transformation challenges in higher education,” according to the programme’s website. GRAPHIC: Tamara Wicomb
Evoking Change
“Victims of racism need to play a role in educating and […] in ensuring that they are not just window-dressing but are truly building anti-racism and inclusive spaces,” said Nkosi.
“Creating brave spaces to talk honestly to each other is a critical step in building healthier communities,” said Katlego.
“When it comes to racism and anti-racism, unfortunately we all have a role to play and in our small ways try and change our immediate circles’ thinking and ensure that they don’t feel comfortable in our presence to be racist or biased,” concluded Nkosi.