15 October 2015 | Volume 9 | Week 42 | Tel: 018 294 3924/17 | northwestindependent@telkomsa.net | Potchefstroom | Gratis • Free
ReformPUK: Students voice concerns
B
lack students of the Reform Puk group this week held an historical meeting in the Totius Hall on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. This was the first such meeting in recent times. Strong objection to racism was expressed, but several speakers stressed that they were not against Afrikaans as such. The students did, however, ask for parallel English classes. The Manifesto clarified their position: “We neither hate nor reject Afrikaans. We reject the way Afrikaans is used to exclude and discriminate against black students on the Potchefstroom Campus. We also reject the manner in which the administration uses Afrikaans to the detriment of the image of the language amongst other cultural groups in this country.” The lively but orderly meeting was attended by some 250 students and staff, some of them white. A call was made on the rector of the campus, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, to resign immediately. He was present, but did not respond. The ReformPUK students described how Afrikaans was used to exclude them. Students also spoke about their experiences of racism and how they struggled with the interpretation services. When a speaker asked which students in the audience had heard the phrase: “The interpretor did not hear the student,” many hands were raised. The vice-chancellor of the NWU, Prof. Dan Kgwadi, also attended and welcomed the fact that students expressed their views. Earlier in the week Prof. Kgwadi encouraged students to support his “We are the NWU” initiative. “Under this banner I wish to encourage an on-going process of discussions between students internally, between students and management and between students and academic staff,” he said in a letter. For this purpose he has assigned Theo Bekker, director for special projects in his office, to co-ordinate this inclusive process. One of the leaders of the ReformPUK movement, spokesperson Jeanett Mosala said the group is “very impressed” with the response to the meeting. “We were really surprised at how many students turned up and how well the manifesto was received. I think we touched a nerve and this movement will grow to something really important. We are positive that
our demands will be met and we look forward to a new era of dialogue and engagement on our campus.” A representative of ReformPUK said the most negative reaction to their manifesto was from people who objected to the immediate removal of the poet Totius’ statue from the Potchefstroom campus. He emphasized that ReformPUK’s demand included an alternative: That the statue be properly contextualised by including visible information on the role historical figures such as Totius played in oppressing black people. “White students need to know that this man was instrumental in providing a Biblical justification of Apartheid and in fact addressed the 1944 Volkskongres on this topic planting one of the most important pillars of grand Apartheid.” A lecturer who attended the meeting said she had always thought she had a good grasp of the problems black students face. “But I was still surprised by the horror stories these students shared about racism and exclusion.” Some of the ReformPUK demands include: * The immediate removal of all barriers to English as a language of instruction and a feasible plan to implement English as language of instruction before the beginning of the next academic year. * As part of this plan all lecturers should be tested for their ability to lecture in English and immediate steps should be taken to rectify any shortcomings in this regard. Where shortcomings can’t be addressed, lecturers from other NWU campuses should be drafted to rectify the situation. * The discontinuation of the ineffective translation services before the start of the next academic year. * All first year classes should from the 2016 academic year be available in English. * By the 2020 academic year at least 50% of the permanent residential students on the Potchefstroom Campus should be black. * Visible and safe spaces must be provided immediately to black students. * Segregation in hostels must be abolished immediately. * By the 2020 academic year at least 50% of the hostel residents on the Potchefstroom Campus should be black. • Also read NorthWest Independent’s editorial comment on Page 4.
Best Quality Chicken, Direct to the Public No additives. No hormones. No brine.
Legquarters @ R52.63/kg
Chicken Breast Fillets @ R59.95/kg
Chicken Livers (500g) @ R10.00
CHUBBY CHICK OUTLET
Retief Street, Across from P&P Tel/Fax (018) 297 0875 Business hours: Mon - Fri: 09:00 - 17:30 & Sat: 08:30 - 13:30 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
*WHILE STOCK LAST
The ReformPUK meeting was attended by more than 200 students and lecturers.
Students made their concerns clear in front of the venue where the ReformPUK meeting was held.