The University of Fort Hare disassociated itself on Tuesday from apparently racist remarks made at the university’s graduation ceremony at the weekend by imbongi (praise-singer) Jongela Nojozi.
The university’s acting vice-chancellor Pinky Mrwetyana said the university regretted that the remarks were made on a university platform and said they were unconstitutional and morally wrong.
Nojozi’s remarks were made while he was singing the praises of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. Nojozi reportedly praised Mugabe for chasing whites from Zimbabwe and asked to ”please, please chase them from our land”.
Mugabe was at the ceremony to witness the graduation of Zimbabwean Presidential Scholarship Award students. Mrwetyana said: ”We do not claim or accept any responsibility for the remarks. This is, after all, Mr Nojozi’s expressed opinion. The university has used Nojozi as a praise singer on previous occasions without such unfortunate remarks having been made and we can only learn from this experience.”
Mrwetyana said the university’s Strategic Plan made clear the university’s commitment to promoting a non-racial society. ”This is reflected in the composition of our council, management, staff, and student profile. The university seeks to promote a vision of non-racialism — a principle clearly contradicted
by the specific remarks made by Mr Nojozi,” she said. – Sapa