'Vote for White Person.'
'Vote for White Person.'
This was the slogan adopted by Rhodes University student Brad Bense in his Student Representative Council (SRC) campaign for presidency last month. Giant photoshopped depictions of Uncle Sam, the iconic image for US Army recruitment, could be seen around campus, followed by the slogan ‘Vote Mlungu’ which translated means ‘Vote White Person’. This sparked mixed reactions from the student body, marking the beginning of a very controversial election campaign.
“Is this Votela uMlungu slogan trying to get black people’s votes?” asked Zusipe Malume Batyi on the SRC Facebook page, a sentiment shared by a number of students who found the slogan offensive. “I see this simply as a pathetic slogan that talks down to a level that the candidate obviously believes black people will find appealing,” added Fundile Sangoni.
On the other hand, student Jean-Michel Gaud commented on the thread, “I think more than anything it is a way of Africanising the candidate. The SRC has traditionally hit a wall when it comes to getting ‘white’ students to participate… I don’t think anyone should legitimately take offence.”
Regardless, Bense’s motives were questioned at both the SRC Grazzle, where candidates present their manifesto, and at the Presidential Debate last week. An unidentified student asked him if the students should vote for him because he is white or because of his capabilities.
In response, Bense said that there was no mention of the word ‘mlungu’ in his manifesto and that it was a campaign strategy intended to challenge student apathy. He explained that the election had failed to reach a quorum of 33.3% in the first round of elections and the results had been rendered null and void.
“There is a lack of white constituency,” Bense pointed out. With this in mind, as Media Councillor, he took it in his stride to effectively create debate in student governance.
Bense’s professional ethics were questioned as he had set aside strict formality and donned jeans; a white vest with the words ‘votela umlungu’ on the front and ‘100% Mlungu’ on the back.
As a result, a sharp contrast was drawn between Bense and the other presidential candidate Sakhe Badi, whose slogan was ‘Everybody needs SomeBadi’.
Quorum was reached in the second round of elections and Badi was elected president. Bense is his deputy. The inauguration took place last Friday.
