Prof Jansen's major blunder

The Zapiro cartoon is sourced from the Mail & Guardian Online.


THE University of Free State must surely count as one of the remaining heavens on earth for white racists.

Stories of racism against black students and staff at the institution abound. One young woman says she could not wait to complete her studies so she could get away from “the oppressive environment” at the university. She recounts, with a sense of sadness, that the university management allowed the infamous Reitz hostel to become what it is.

She recalls: “Sometimes you will pass there (Reitz hostel) and they (white students) would make racist remarks and laugh out very loudly. “I hated passing there because I did not feel safe.” The young lady says black students and staff have became accustomed to being victims of racism.

Newly installed rector Professor Jonathan Jansen deserves to be highly commended for seeking to transform Reitz hostel “into a model of racial reconciliation and social justice for all students”.

Kudos are also in order for Jansen for admitting the university has all along been complicit in creating and enabling environment for white racists to flourish. But at the same time, Jansen deserves to the severely castigated for deciding that the university will no longer pursue charges or disciplinary action against the four students who racially abused and humiliated black employees of the institution.

As much as reconciliation is import ant in creating a racially tolerant society, the learned professor has got it totally wrong is his clumsy attempt to emulate conciliator par excellence, former President Nelson Mandela.

Jansen’s sense of reconciliation is fundamentally flawed in a sense that it is rammed down our throats. There was no prior consultation with the relevant parties, especially the victims, before the reprehensible decision was taken.

Contrary to Jansen’s assertion that the decision is a gesture of racial reconciliation, it will, in fact, perpetuate racism and create racial tensions. Jansen’s decision is more like condoning the deplorable and racist behaviour of the four students. It seems more like Jansen is trying to please his masters, whoever they are or wherever they are found.

Jansen and his university cannot just buy back the dignity of the women, who were so humiliated by the four boys. What is critical in a reconciliation process is that the perpetrators must be genuinely remorseful and sorry about their actions.

Nowhere is his speech did the profess or say whether the four culprits had repented of their racist ways. While Jansen is busy playing Mr Nice Guy, some white students are believed to be continuously taunting the victims over the incident.

The condemnation of Jansen, by the likes of the ruling party and many others, is justified. Not surprisingly, the Democratic Alliance has extolled the vice-chancellor, for “Jansen embraces the values the DA believes are good for higher education and students”. That great South African Institute of Race Relations (of which Jansen is president) defended him, dismissing criticism of Jansen’s revolting decision as “intimidation and bullying”.

Yes, universities are independent, but their independence cannot be used an excuse or a cover to perpetuate the notion that white people are superior to black people.

Even cleaners are constitutionally en titled to dignity and deserve respect as human beings. The learned professor has no right to make decisions for them. Jansen has erred, and he must expedite the process of correcting his mistake.

Cedric Mboyisa is political editor of The Citizen. This article first appeared in The Citizen.