The SA Students’ Congress (Sasco) said on Monday that a group of Afrikaans-speaking students had assaulted a black student at the University of Pretoria (UP). The allegation comes a week after a group were reported to be victimising black, gay and Jewish students on the University of Stellenbosch campus.
Sasco said that a group of Afrikaans-speaking male students from House Maroela, a UP hostel, had assaulted a black student on the main campus last month, in what was allegedly a racist attack.
”We are… not surprised that this attack was launched by students from House Maroela since one of their hostel corridors [is] named ‘Die Volkstaat’ [and] black students are not allowed to stay [there] or walk through [it].”
Sasco said the assailants apparently wanted to cause racial polarisation on campus.
UP spokesperson Edwin Smith confirmed there had been an incident, but said it had not yet been established whether the attack was racist.
”It might well be so. But it is irresponsible for anyone to label it thus before the internal investigations have been completed.”
”We’ll wait for the outcome of the process and not pre-empt it.”
He said that a committee was investigating the matter. Smith added that Sasco was doing a great injustice to the process itself.
”It is unfortunate that they saw it fit to take an internal matter and try and pronounce on it.
”It goes against their own credibility to create an atmosphere that does not necessarily exist on this campus.”
Over the weekend it was reported that right-wing vigilante groups were victimising black, gay and Jewish students on the campus of the University of Stellenbosch.
Stellenbosch University authorities have announced an investigation into the alleged victimisation.
Smith said Sasco-Tuks acted in an opportunistic way in the wake of this headline to push something ”that is not necessarily the case”.
”The university is committed to taking the appropriate action.”
Smith said he was not aware of a corridor named ”Die Volkstaat” in House Maroela from which black students were banned.
”I can’t confirm or deny it.” – Sapa