"Let us work together and change this university for the better," was the plea of Rhodes University Vice Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, as he addressed protesting staff and students on the campus this week.
"Let us work together and change this university for the better," was the plea of Rhodes University Vice Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, as he addressed protesting staff and students on the campus this week.
On Wednesday last wee, the Black Student Movement (BSM) organized a march that included not only students and but also workers from the university – both students and academics.
The march ended at the main Rhodes administration building where representatives handed over memoranda from both groups to the senate.
The marchers were calling for transformation at the university and for every student and worker alike to be treated as equals. Siphokazi Magadla, one of the academics who attended the march, said that it is time for drastic changes – not only at the university but in the country as a whole.
“As black South Africans we don’t have a Plan B, we don’t have passports that we can use to escape if this country falls apart,” she said. Participants were also complaing about the fact that most of the members of the senate are white and that is why their complaints are being ignored.
One cleaner said that she has been working at the university since 1990 and has not seen any kind of transformation. “I am still working for a small amount of money compared to even the student workers at Rhodes. The money that we get paid here is tips,” she said.
The workers were also there in support of the black students in their fight against racism and inequality. One of the house keepers said that, “We can see that the students are suffering because they are not heard.
So now we are joining them, as their parents, to add more voices to their argument and to make sure that we are heard”. “We are here in solidarity with the children,” said Alfred Vena a shop steward at NEHAWU.
He said that as much as the workers have their own grievances, yesterday’s march focused on the students and what they felt needed to be addressed.
BSM member Londiwe Mntambo said that the worker’s involvement shows them that the students are not the only ones being mistreated and that they are not alone in the battle for transformation.
“It gives us validation that we are not crazy when we talk about transformation and the institution not seeing us as black bodies,” she said.
BSM member Thembani Onceya handed over the memoranda to the Vice Chancellor, who promised to have a thorough look at them with his colleagues and said that he will come back and address the matters that need attention as soon as possible.
Dr Mabizela’s last words were “I am going to ask only one thing from you, let us work together and change this university for the better".
He said that everyone in this institution should be treated with respect and dignity. “Baaskap mentality has no place at Rhodes University,” he said.
