Edition One 2021 by VARSITY

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

UCT Fires: Students displaced to Cape Town Hotels for 5 days With fires ravaging UCT’s Upper Campus on Sunday, April 18th, students were evacuated from residences and allocated to hotels around the city. By Jeremy Simpson Dep. Editor-in-Chief

uring devastating fires that severely damaged parts of Upper Campus, including the Jagger Library and the HW Pearson building, numerous UCT residences were evacuated with students subsequently being housed for 5 days in Cape Town’s surrounding hotels. As smoke blanketed Rondebosch and Mowbray, Residences began evacuations and over 3000 students were directed to Main Road and the Rondebosch Common. From these locations, Jammies transported students to the Graduate School of Business, departing from the Mowbray Bus Station. Breakwater Lodge, a Protea hotel affiliated with GSB, received the cohort of students. Over the week, GSB became the central rendez-vous point for res students requiring accommodation, food and other necessities. Key to the success of the operation were the staff at GSB who, according to multiple reports, were instrumental to finding accommodation for the students. Students were

Source: Ernst J. Calitz

housed at 36 different hotels, the furthest being in Camps Bay and Century City. While other residences have all returned, approximately 400 students from Smuts and Fuller are currently being housed in some of four of these hotels as repairs to their residences will likely take months to complete. Pura Mgolombane, Executive Director at Student Affairs, told VARSITY that the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) “intends to return the students [ back to UCT] by no later than May.” Tim Low, the Kopano Assistant Warden, along with the SRC ensured that students’ needs were met, with the SRC often meeting up with students to find out what they were needing. They also ensured that students were fed and that they

received other necessities, sending out requests for donations of food, clothing and necessities. A large amount of food provided to students was also donated from the Gift of the Givers Foundation. “As smoke blanketed Rondebosch and Mowbray, Residences began evacuations and over 3000 students were directed to Main Road and the Rondebosch Common.”

However, the operation brought challenges. As students descended on the Waterfront Campus, they were frantically allocated to multiple different hotels scattered around the city, making clear communication a particularly challenging feat throughout the week according to Tim Low. Furthermore, there were initially no leadership struc-

tures at the individual hotels, further complicating communication. In response, Sharon Mogale, the SRC member in charge of International Students, as well as Tim Low implemented a system of leadership in a few of the hotels and set up hotel WhatsApp groups to iron out any communication problems. Furthermore, Mogale and Low communicated directly with the hotel management if any issues arose. While the work done last week has been highlighted by many in the UCT community, sources involved in the operation have suggested that there is a lot to reflect on, including how the university approaches the crisis as well as how student leaders communicate with the student body during these times.

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NEWS

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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Deputy VC pick met with widespread disapproval Prof. Martin Hall’s appointment as acting head of Transformation faces scorn from the Black Academic Caucus and the Students’ Representative Council. By Seth Meyer Staff Writer

HE UCT Council recently made the decision to temporarily occupy the vacant position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Transformation, formerly held by Professor Loretta Feris, with Emeritus Professor Martin Hall, a 69-year-old man with experience as a Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UCT between 2002 and 2008. The decision stirred controversy in the media and prompted a response from the UCT Students’ Representative Council (SRC) who issued a statement on April 7th. In it, they expressed disapproval of the decision and raised the question: “can the University justify tasking a straight-passing white man as the keeper of transformation in 2021?” The SRC criticised the decision as “a preservation of a now well-established unwillingness to advance any tangible radical change in the institution” and described Hall as “a man who exemplifies the epitome of white supremacy”.

“‘a man who exemplifies the epitome of white supremacy.’” UCT Vice-Chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng had earlier issued a statement on April 6th in defence of Council’s decision, noting that Prof. Feris was “neither “fired” nor “axed” as alleged” and that the choice of a new DVC “rests with Council, after nomination by the vice-chancellor”. Phakeng went on to state: “It is deeply problematic to

suggest that the ability of members to serve the university for a limited acting period can only be on the basis of their race, age and gender. It is a skewed and incorrect view of transformation.”

“‘It is deeply problematic to suggest that the ability of members to serve the university... can only be on the basis of their race, age and gender.’” The UCT Black Academic Caucus (BAC) weighed in with statements posted to their Facebook page, and the popular, UCT-based satirical Instagram account, @ uctjustkidding, ran a forum and polls discussing the appointment and the SRC’s response. Such polls included questions such as “Should the SRC try harder to gauge students’ views on an issue before issuing a statement?” with 96% of respondents replying “Yes”. The BAC responded initially to the announcement of Hall’s appointment and again to Phakeng’s statement, describing a “typical short-sightedness of the University of Cape Town with regards to the fundamentally important issues of transformation” and alleging that the Vice-Chancellor’s statement “is fundamentally at odds with UCT’s own recently crafted Policy on Employment Equity”. The President of the UCT Convocation, Professor Eddy Maloka, issued his resignation on April 8th, in protest against

Source: news.uct.ac.za

Council’s decision, stating: “I have a lot of respect for Prof. Martin Hall…I do not doubt or question his integrity, ability and commitment. At the same time, I regard the portfolio of DVC transformation to be very critical to our University… The choice of the person who occupies it, is as important as the terms of reference that brought it into existence”.

“Acting DVC: Martin Hall holds a PhD from Cambridge and is a Fellow of UCT and the Royal Society of South Africa.” VARSITY News reached out to Dr Tiri Chinyoka representing the BAC, asking for comment on the responses posted by users on @ uctjustkidding and whether or not the BAC agrees with the sentiments expressed by the SRC. Chinyoka responded, saying “The BAC shares the sentiments shared in the SRC statement” and said that “The BAC will not comment on the social media posts on satirical sites such as @uctjustkidding.” VARSITY News also attempted to contact Prof. Hall, the SRC Secretary-General and Prof. Eddy Maloka, although we have received no response as of writing this article. Prof. Hall began serving in his position as acting DVC on April 1st.

NEWS

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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Vlogging a dead horse lecturer sparks fresh outrage Dr Lwazi Lushaba’s latest comments have sparked Twitter controversy, and a complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission by the DA. By Daniel P. Rossmeisl VARSITY Contributor

n an April 7th lecture recording delivered by Dr Lwazi Lushaba to his first year politics class, Dr Lushaba tells his students that “Hitler committed no crime, all Hitler did was to do to white people what white people had reserved for us, black people.” For some, Dr Lushaba’s sentiments typify the best of an African decolonial movement. On April 12th, an IOL article quoted SRC President Declan Dyer - who sees no problem with the content of the lecture - as saying “the comments were part of a larger critique of political science.” Not all students were so reserved in their defence of Dr Lushaba. On April 8th memes were circulated around the POL1004F class Whatsapp group suggesting that “whoever outed Dr Lushaba” be necklaced.

“memes were circulated around the POL1004F class Whatsapp group suggesting that ‘whoever outed Dr Lushaba’ be necklaced.” For others, Dr Lushaba remains a voice for bigotry. A student in Lushaba’s class argues that it is “antisemitism thinly veiled in a decolonial narrative!” In an article for PoliticsWeb, UCT Professor David Benatar addresses Mr Dyer’s concern arguing that while

“the context makes his view less clear, his view remains objectionable.” Professor Adam Mendelsohn, the director of the Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies at UCT, indicated to the South African Jewish Report that Dr Lushaba “could do with reading much more about Nazism and the Holocaust.” Dr Lushaba seems to disagree. “Please watch and be educated,” he told the South African Jewish Report. Meanwhile, the controversy has spilled out into the public. TimesLIVE reported on the comments on April 8th, in an article titled “UCT launches investigatiointo academic’s lecture on Adolf Hitler”. Chris Roper accused TimesLIVE of portraying the academic as a Holocaust denier. VARSITY has reviewed the lecture, and Dr Lushaba’s comments did not deny the fact of the Holocaust. However, Holocaust denial is not the issue identified - antisemitism is. Speaking to IOL, Chairperson of the South African Jeiwsh Board of Deputies, Tzvi Brivik, revealed that he found the comments “hateful and deeply offensive.” The DA announced an intention to lodge a complaint against Dr

“A student in Lushaba’s class argues that it is ‘antisemitism thinly veiled in a decolonial narrative!’”

Source: politics.uct.ac.za

Lushaba with the South African Human Rights Commission. An anonymous source within the DA condemned Lushaba’s actions, but also reaffirmed their belief that “political parties need to stay out of university matters.”

“Dr Lushaba’s comments did not deny the fact of the Holocaust. However, Holocaust denial is not the issue identified antisemitism is.” Dr Lwazi Lushaba is no stranger to controversy. In 2019, during a vote for a new Humanities dean, he faced criticism for allegedly eating voting ballots and engaging in “verbal and physical attacks.” Dr Lushaba maintains that lecture

content is protected by academic free speech.

VARSITY reached out to UCT Media Spokesperson Elijah Moholoha, but at the time of publication, had not received a response.

Editorial

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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A tumultuous end to a peculiar term student debt is an issue that has continued its choke-hold on our peers at tertiary institutions across the country, with 2021 being no exception. This culminated in a nationwide protest against financial exclusion in March of this year.

By Lerato Botha and Jeremy Simpson Editor-in-Chief and Dep. Editor-in-Chief

CT students have been beset with much misfortune. With the COVID pandemic continuing to infiltrate our studies, many of our students have been put in the unfortunate position of having to complete their degrees online, surrendering the possibility of becoming fully immersed in the university experience. Furthermore, the financial exclusion of underprivileged students due to outstanding

Most recently this pattern of misfortune and loss has once again struck UCT, in a very personal way. Parts of our campus, including Fuller and Smuts Hall residences, our beloved Jagger Library, and other buildings, have suffered some damage as a result of the wildfires that began to emerge on Sunday, March 18th 2021. All of these events have, undoubtedly, taken a toll on our community, and we as a student-led newspaper collective can relate to the negative effects that these circumstances have had on our mental health and our academic morale. However, despite the losses incurred at the start of this academic year, these events have also revealed a deep sense of community within our student youth, and within the city of Cape Town as a whole. The protests that

were held in March of this year saw the uniting of our student body against the common threat that was academic exclusion. Although not all of the student demands had been met, our unity against financial exclusion put enough pressure on the university to allow every eligible student to re-register regardless of their student debt.

“However, despite the losses incurred at the start of this academic year, these events have also revealed a deep sense of community within our student youth, and within the city of Cape Town as a whole.” This same sense of community was once again demonstrated during the wildfires. While the fire completely ravaged through some of our most treasured parts of campus, it also brought to the fore the dedication of our student leaders to their constituents. From Sunday, the SRC could be seen ensuring that stu-

dents stranded on Main Road would arrive at their accommodation. As the week progressed, they continued with the arduous work of ensuring every student was fed. They also assisted students who had forgotten necessities during the spontaneous and stressful evacuation that spanned five days. Besides our student leaders, the fortius UCT student body braved the uncertainty that not only Sunday, but also Monday and Tuesday brought as we waited to understand the extent of the damage. Many of us sat idle, unable to work or use the additional time productively. Many of us sat in blank grief at the destruction wrought on the Jagger Library and our African Studies Collection. However, our community of students, lecturers, residence staff, and Jammie drivers were there for one another. Our grief was not individual, it was collective.

“Our grief was not individual, it was collective.”

The Collective Editor-in-Chief - Lerato Botha Dep. Editor-in-Chief - Jeremy Simpson Branding & Marketing Manager - Nita Naidoo Finance Manager - Savannah Goncalves Creative Director - Navan Coetzee Copy Editor - Julia Rowley Features Editor - Amber Williams Dep. Features Editor - Manoa Andriamihariosa Opinions Editor - Emma Sacco Design Editors - Kendal Davids, Reabetswe Khutsoane, Meriam Kakuwaezi

Applications are still open for: Human Resources Manager - Advertising Manager - Social Media Manager - Sports and Arts & Culture Editors - Web Editor - Staff Writers and News Reporters Please email hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za if you are interested!

Features

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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“Everyone was panicking” VARSITY News speaks to a student who evacuated with others amidst the campus blaze. By Seth Meyer and Julia Rowley Staff Writer and Copy Editor

he fire that broke out near the Rhodes Memorial on Sunday, 18th April and turned into an out-ofcontrol blaze resulting in the destruction of buildings and the displacement of hundreds, took a severe toll on UCT students, structures and the academic calendar. Along with the damage to treasured sites such as the Jagger Library and Mostert Mill, the human impact of the crisis was felt keenly amidst the student occupants of campus residences, who were forced to flee in confusion and fear. VARSITY News reached out to one such individual with a request to share their experience, a third year Commerce student living in a residence on Lower Campus, who agreed to speak with us on the condition of anonymity. What were your initial thoughts when you heard that there was a fire on the mountain and that it was getting close to UCT? “Initially I was actually very unbothered…because fires happen quite often and it wasn’t the first time there were fires on the mountain…I thought it would be something that would be done quickly, everything would go back to normal and then when it was getting close. I was really convinced that it wouldn’t become a thing, it wouldn’t become big, it wouldn’t even travel to UCT. Everyone was panicking. Even when I was packing my things when they told us to start packing bags, I packed so lightly because I thought we’d probably just stand outside and they’d say ‘Okay, we can go back in,’ or something like that.”

“Student leadership wasn’t getting any communication, we don’t know, we were just being contained inside and we can’t leave until further notice.”

Source: Ernst J. Calitz

What was the evacuation process like? “When the pictures were circulating, we were getting messages from our res group that we should pack certain things and go to the foyer area, because the smoke had started travelling down and it was in sort of the middle of our res, so it would be safer for us to move to the foyer…We were being guided by sub-wardens and our warden because we couldn’t leave until CPS cleared us to leave…There was a time where it was a bit confusing because student leadership wasn’t getting any communication, we don’t know, we were just being contained inside and we can’t leave until further notice. Eventually we were guided out by sub-wardens and the warden…all the mentors, the fire marshals at the res, were checking if everyone has left their rooms and everyone vacated the main building where the smoke was starting to get really thick. I think it was quite swift they did a great job in terms of that, also making sure that no one was inside and being the last people to lock up when everyone had evacuated.”

“When everything was going on, I hadn’t processed all of that…I still had a test coming up so I was kinda trying to study, but traumatised as well.” Was there a sense of calm and order? “Not really, everyone was very panicky. People were trying, including myself, to calm - especially the first years - to calm them down, some people were crying, people were having anxiety attacks. As much as we planned for fires, to go orderly, quickly, swiftly, calmly, I don’t think that’s super-realistic because panic is a thing and fire is one of the most

dangerous elements, so people will panic and we can’t avoid that, so I’m not going to say it was calm.” Do you feel like your safety had been previously prepared for in case of an event like this? “To a certain extent, yes, I just think maybe communication externally into the residences could have been a bit better, maybe the warden, fire marshals, mentors, sub-wardens could be able to give us more direction… Our warden was there the whole time, she was there in the foyer with us, checking if everyone’s okay, she’s bringing wet towels from her house for anyone who is feeling lightheaded… She was the last person to leave, she let us keep some of our bags in her car.”

“Even when I was packing my things when they told us to start packing bags, I packed so lightly because I thought we’d probably just stand outside and they’d say ‘Okay, we can go back in.’” What was the process like to get placed in a hotel? “It was long and I understand why, because it was extremely chaotic and I don’t think anyone had anticipated it to get so out of control, but we waited for hours trying to get placed in hotels, because we had to be counted first and there were negotiations with UCT and hotels…It was very long, it was very tiring…We were reassured constantly that we won’t be on the streets, we won’t be hungry, it was just more delay and uncertainty, I think.” Once at the hotel, were you quickly provided with food, toiletries, clothes, etc? Do you feel like what was provided was adequate?

“I think around 10 or 9 was when I finally signed in. I don’t really remember much. It was like a haze. We got food really late simply because they had to deliver to a lot of places… I think I was at the point where I was just going to sleep because I’m so exhausted from the whole day… There was a Col’ Cacchio restaurant just at the back and they provided pizzas and we shared when we were in the queue outside. I had bought my toiletries and I still had the clothes that I had on, so at that moment those weren’t emergency necessities for me and I think they arrived more so from the following morning, otherwise people were sharing in the hotel…The only thing more delayed was more clothes.” Throughout the entire process, did you feel like UCT/DSA communicated with you well, and did the best they could to ensure both your physical and mental safety? “Yes, I think a lot of people pitched in to help UCT as well, so I’m not going to say UCT just alone, there were gazillions of organisations, we felt reassured. Them suspending academic activity also helped, because the stress and I also, when everything was going on, I hadn’t processed all of that…I still had a test coming up so I was kinda trying to study, but traumatised as well. I will say we were well communicated with, more so…from the following day…Did they best ensure our safety? I personally think so. The roll-out from when we had slept over the first night, for mental health and physical health was pretty good.” Many affected students have been able to return to their residences from Thursday, 22nd April onwards. The academic programme resumed on Monday, 26th April.

Features

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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Transformation in Flux Profes s or Loretta Feris’s withdrawal from her role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation opens critical space for reflection on what the vast portfolio has achieved. By Caitlin MacDonald VARSITY Contributor

ive years have passed since student activists built Shackville below Jameson steps. The corrugated iron carcass stood as a festering monument of enduring spatial apartheid, surrounded by voices lifted in song and the smoke from burning colonial-era paintings. It spoke wordlessly of economic inequity, a lack of accommodation, financial exclusion, and, more broadly, a culture of white supremacy at the university. The shack was removed within two days but remains imprinted on the land, a monument of memory that demands redress and reformation.

“‘We don’t all seem to be going in the same direction in terms of envisioning an inclusive university. [...] We’re not realizing the synergistic benefits of integrating these causes.’” Professor Loretta Feris’s departure from the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, a role which she assumed in November 2016, delineates an era of reconstruction. The Transformation portfolio itself is a vast latticework, troubling each thread of the university’s fabric - from symbolic to structural change. It confronts racism, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), ableism, white-centred pedagogy, as well as processing the fallout of Fallism through the Institutional Reconciliation and Transformation Commission (IRTC). One student has expressed that she feels that there is a lack of solidarity between sprawling Transformation projects, “We don’t all seem to be going in the same direction in terms of envisioning an inclusive university. [...] We’re not realizing the synergistic benefits of integrating these causes.” The cumbersome portfolio is additionally challenged by a lack of funding. According to the latest Transformation Report, published in 2020, only the Commerce and Health Science faculties had allocated modest budgets for Transformation projects, and in 2019 several transformation committee (TC) chairpersons resigned, finding the burden of unremunerated and sometimes unrecognised work too great. The commencement of the national lockdown in 2020 presented a challenge for the Transformation portfolio, splintering the student body across the country. In the same way that Shackville collapsed space, rupturing university life with stark township realities, the move to online learning punctured the homelives of indigent families with the responsibilities of a tertiary qualification. Prof. Feris emphasised this challenge in an interview with World View, highlighting the fact that many informal settlements and rural areas do not have adequate connectivity and that this, in turn, renders the devices and data provided by the university meaningless.

Source: UCT News

She foregrounded the challenges of students from poor families, expressing that while people “see education as a gateway out of poverty,” the barriers to this gateway are almost impenetrable “when you share a shack with 7 or 8 other people’’. In this way, transformation at UCT is in perpetual dialogue with national socioeconomic realities.

“attention has turned to the Faculty of Health Sciences in the aftermath of Khanya Booi’s death earlier this year with many feeling, as was asserted by one medical student, “mental health continues to take a backseat to the ‘integrity’ of degrees.” Questions of healing and justice will continue to define a new generation of transformation. The new Sexual Misconduct Policy, finalised in December of last year, aims to centre survivors through a Special Tribunal- the first of its kind in South Africa. This tribunal first emerged as an ad hoc committee in the aftermath of Uyinene Mrwetyana’s murder, when campus was cloaked in dirges and testimonials were being written in women’s bathroom stalls. The tribunal inherited a backlog of 36 cases from the Legal Services office at its inception and addressed a desperate need for healing in the backwash of individual and collective trauma. Now, attention has turned to the Faculty of Health Sciences in the aftermath of Khanya Booi’s death earlier this year with many feeling, as was asserted by one medical student, “mental health continues to take a backseat to the ‘integrity’ of degrees”.

“while people ‘see education as a gateway out of poverty,’ the barriers to this gateway are almost impenetrable ‘when you share a shack with 7 or 8 other people.’” Today, in the quiet of a pandemic year, with feet planted on the same ground once occupied by the Shackville protest, one might cast an eye up and over the steps to the stately, neoclassical building beyond. The name Sarah Baartman is inscribed into the colonial skeleton. A body, once reduced to a curiosity by imperial eyes, has been remade as a monument shuddering with all the tensions, discontents, and genuine transformations of the past five years. On a sparsely populated campus, dogged by the ghosts of a violent past, it seems clear that transformation is not a destination but is in a continuous state of flux, falteringly moving forwards. In the words of the outgoing DVC for Transformation: “an inclusive UCT is not an event, but it does require deliberate and sustained action.”

Features

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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Health Sciences students are “different people” with huge stressors after facing financial exclusion F i n a n c i a l exc l u s i o n impacts the student, their academics, their family, and the mental health of everyone involved.

By Ilhām Choonara Staff Writer

hroughout 2020, we revered frontline workers of every kind, especially those who worked tirelessly in the healthcare sector to keep us safe. UCT Health Sciences students played a key role as they assisted on the frontlines, went into hospitals, treated COVID-19 patients and assisted in vaccine research efforts.

“When asked if there was support from lecturers or tutors, the response was largely negative, with one student commenting, ‘Honestly, I cannot see it.’” The eventual decision to allow all students to register on Sunday, March 14, 2021 brought a collective sigh of relief to thousands awaiting communication from the funding office for the 2021 academic year. However, since the Faculty of Health Sciences started classes earlier on Monday, February 8, students with a fee block started the academic year late, with far reaching implications on their mental health and academic performance. We spoke to two of these students whose stories show that the lifting of the fee block did not clear the darkness that is still on their horizon. Numerous student protests ensued from the financial exclusion faced by many at the start of the academic year: the protests fought for pupils like

Source: rawpixel

Tiara Lalla, a second-year student majoring in Speech and Language Pathology who cares about her degree and wanted to continue studying just like everyone else. Some Health Sciences students had missed out on over a month of work and were facing missed practicals and assignments as soon as they were allowed to register. An Occupational Therapy student finds it unlikely that he will make it through this first semester since most classmates were already in class and much further ahead with their academic workload.

“Some Health Sciences students had missed out on over a month of work and were facing missed practicals and assignments as soon as they were allowed to register.” “I was sitting at home and wondering, what is going to happen if I am unable to register? What am I going to do the entire year?” Many students had similar concerns. This perpetual stress only increased with an insurmountable workload in March. When asked if there was support from lecturers or tutors, the response was largely negative, with one student commenting, “Honestly, I cannot see it”. Motivation, thoughts and prayers

can help but during this time, most learners were waiting for a miracle. “Every day my mother used to comfort me because she could see I was struggling with this”, commented one student. Financial exclusion impacts the student, their academics, their family, and the mental health of everyone involved. Both students said that being financially excluded has changed them, affecting them both emotionally and mentally. The university did allow all students to register but the decision was made with a delay. One of the students reflected on the situation with the following remark: “It made me realize what the world is all about, it made me grow up, but it put me through a lot”.

“Both students said that being financially excluded has changed them, affecting them both emotionally and mentally.” The fight for free education is a convoluted one. Regardless, students are deeply impacted, and they have voiced their disappointment with the university. Even after they had registered, there was little time for rest. A degree in the Faculty of Health Sciences is difficult, and the first semester has brought its own set of worries and challenges for many of these students.

Features

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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Mental Health at the Heart of Many Students’ Concerns as First Semester Takes Off A recurring topic of discussion amongst students and staff has been the issue of mental health considering the start of the new year and the various adjustments that had to be made to facilitate teaching both online and on campus. By Manoa Andriamiharisoa Dep. Features Editor Source: Unsplash

espite the easing of lockdown restrictions at the beginning of this year, the University of Cape Town (UCT) has had to make readjustments to its teaching methods to ensure the safety of all students and staff on campus. To date, most classes have continued academic instruction via online platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, but some departments have at last allowed for students to engage with coursework and material on campus, with many examinations and tests expected to be written at UCT. “Some have found online learning demanding and draining, requiring more time and effort to complete assignments and other coursework. They have described it as taxing on their mental health, hindering their ability to perform well academically.”| Students across the different faculties began voicing their concerns about the workload shortly after the beginning of the first semester this year. Some have found online learn-

ing demanding and draining, requiring more time and effort to complete assignments and other coursework. They have described it as taxing on their mental health, hindering their ability to perform well academically. Mental health has been a recurring topic of discussion amongst students on various social media platforms, such as the UCTJustKidding Instagram page where they have dedicated several posts and stories to sharing people’s experiences, advice, and knowledge on affordable psychologists. The Michaelis School of Fine Arts, also known as the Fine Arts department, has granted students access to campus to complete their work and projects given that their courses require large space and the use of specific materials. The Faculty of Commerce has allowed some final-year students in the Business Science degree to physically attend tutorials on campus on a weekly basis, giving them the opportunity to interact more frequently and openly with their tutors.

Students in their fourth, fifth and final year in the Faculty of Health Sciences have been learning and doing practicals on campus, interacting with patients and directly engaging with their lecturers. The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE) has given all students in the Chemical Engineering department permission to return to campus on a rotation basis whilst ensuring they maintain and adhere to social distancing protocols. The Faculty of Science has also allowed for practicals to take place on campus while the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Humanities have adapted their teaching methods to online learning. “Those who have been able to return to campus have expressed their satisfaction with face-toface learning since they can better interact with lecturers and tutors.” Those who have been able to return to campus have expressed their satisfaction with face-to-face learning since they can better interact with

lecturers and tutors. They have also found it easier to ask one another for help through peerto-peer interaction, with a lot of students mentioning how much they missed campus once they set foot on the university’s premises. While this year has shown many improvements in the university’s methods of instruction, there is still much work to be done to bridge the distance created by online learning and its consequent effects on the relationships between students, tutors, and lecturers. Some students believe that having compulsory live lectures can be a way forward as it can create healthy bonds between students and lecturers if both parties are willing to engage with one another openly and honestly. Face-toface tutorials in small groups may also help as they allow tutors and students to interact more effectively, and through this engagement tutors would also be able to understand the students’ struggles with large workloads.

Opinions

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

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Smuts Hall: The Good, The Bad and the SRC The SRC displays the despicable and racist side of Jan Smuts, but there is more to be considered when looking at his full legacy. By Stefan Kirsten Staff Writer

n a statement made on March 13th, the SRC invited all UCT students to gather at Smuts Hall in protest of the name. It reignited the debate about the Upper Campus residence named after Jan Christiaan Smuts, but with an extremely one-sided view. Jan Smuts was undoubtedly racist. This is clear as day when looking at the views he held and the unacceptable segregation policy that he implemented during his time as Prime Minister. He was also quite keen on Rhodes’ idea of colonial settlement and I think we can all agree that he had an insidious side to him. Does his legacy stop there though? I think this is a question the SRC has refrained from answering or even had the courage

Source: WikiMedia

to ask themselves. If they did, their whole charade of identity politics might evaporate. Without turning this article into a history lesson, I would like to paint another picture of Jan Smuts. During the Anglo-Boer War, Jan Smuts fought against the British and after three gruelling years, the war ended in a devastating loss for the Boers. He also helped enter the South African Army into the First World War on the side of the British. This made him incredibly unpopular with his own people and resulted in multiple rebellions. During the First World War, Smuts spent months away

from home on different fronts, and in 1918 he ended the war as part of the British war cabinet and a signatory of the Treaty of Versailles. “Did his heroic actions justify his racist attitude? Not at all. Did his racist attitude diminish all the good he did? It is hard to say, but it is not a definitive ‘yes.’” Twenty one years later he was instrumental in involving South Africa in the Second World War, providing vital support to the Allies. Had the Nazis won the war, one shudders to think what the world might have been like for people of colour. As a British Field Marshal, Jan Smuts

DISCLAIMER

played an enormous role in preventing that from happening. When taking a closer look at all that Jan Smuts did for South Africa and the world, it is clear to see that he was a man of courage and forgiveness, who for the most part demonstrated incredible determination to do the right thing, even at the cost of his own popularity. “It is only in movies that people are ultimately depicted as good or bad, but the SRC has had a hard time admitting this to themselves.” Did his heroic actions justify his racist attitude? Not at all. Did his racist attitude diminish all the good

he did? It is hard to say, but it is not a definitive “yes”. It is only in movies that people are ultimately depicted as good or bad, but the SRC has had a hard time admitting this to themselves. Instead they have been busy with racial rhetoric, such as suggesting that your emotional and intellectual capacity for critically dealing with racism is dependent on the colour of your skin. It takes courage and wisdom to confront the legacy of a person in totality, especially one from the past, and it is this courage and wisdom that the SRC has been without.

This section of the VARSITY is a vehicle for expression, on any topic by members of the UCT community. The opinions within this section are not necessarily those of the VARSITY collective or its advertisers. Letters to the Editor need to be kept at a maximum of 300 words and can be sent to: editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Opinions

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 11

Page 10

Dr Lwazi Lushaba: Anti-Semite or African Hero? Morally, Dr Lwazi Lushaba’s comment on the Westernisation of history fell dangerously short, but academically the remarks he made shine a light on the bigger picture concerning the plight of black people.

By Josh Raynham Staff Writer

CT is an institution that is no stranger

to controversy. So, when I heard about another incident concerning the famed university it almost merited an eye roll and the remark “it’s just another day in the office.” The recent comments made by

Lwazi

Lushaba,

however, do merit certain scrutiny. It is a topic I believe raises the question of moral integrity; but I do not see it as academically incorrect. The incident concerning Professor Dr Lushaba - a man who is no strang-

Naturally,

the

Jewish

the way he did or was his

felt by black people. While

community is up in arms

lack of moral integrity on

we learn so much about

following the comment

outright display?

the Holocaust in school,

made. In an interview on SAFM the Chairperson of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, Tsvi Brivik,

commented

the words by Dr Lushaba, stating that there is a clear link to anti-semitic

our knowledge of black

“...controversial topics will be brought up and discussed in a university setting, however, they must always be followed by an explanation and then consolidation..”

speech as well as exclaiming

that

“to

represent

genocide as a justifiable action against a minority in a political educational space is shameful and deplorable at best.”

with a pre-recorded lec-

In contrast to the com-

ture where the professor

ments made by Mr Brivik

makes a comment stating

were those made by Bram

that “Hitler committed no

Hanekom, a member of

crimes and was only doing

the group Africa4Pales-

unto white people what

tine. In the words of Mr

white people had normal-

Hanekom and many oth-

ly reserved for black peo-

ers on social media, Dr

ple.” Adding fuel to the

Lushaba is recognised as a

impending fire, this com-

hero in the eyes of the op-

ment came just prior to

pressed, giving a voice to a

the week of Yom HaShoah

historical minority. These

- a time where Jewish peo-

contrasting

ple around the world pay

to the question: was Dr

homage to those killed

Lushaba correct in com-

during the Holocaust.

menting on the subject

ideals

add

especially

Africa, is dismal. I have never once heard of the Congolese genocide carried out by the Belgium colonizers between 1885 and 1908 where upwards of 10 million Congolese

The answer: both. One must realise that controversial topics will be brought up and discussed in a university setting, however, they must

er to controversy- begins

histories,

always be followed by an explanation and then consolidation. Dr Lushaba’s statement was morally incorrect, yes, and I do agree that to defend Hitler’s abhorrent actions in order to conceive a point can incite massive traumas to those affected by the Holocaust. However,

the

message

that Dr Lushaba aimed to converse was there – that within a historical context the incidences felt by white people as a whole often overshadow those

DISCLAIMER

inhabitants were killed, or of the Queenstown massacre which occurred in the Eastern Cape in 1985, where residents of the

Mlungisi

township

were openly fired upon by South African Police during a Local Residence Association meeting.

“...within a historical context the incidences felt by white people as a whole often overshadow those felt by black people.” The most prolific genocide, which can often be linked as the catalyst to the Jewish Holocaust was the Namibian genocide

Source: TimesLive

carried out by the German colonialists between 1904-1907 where upwards of 200, 000 Hereros and Namaqua where killed. In his 2003 paper, political academic Mahmood Mamdani brands the violence which occurred in World War Two not as that of the evil understood by historians, which was the causation of one man, but rather as that of the violence which has been perpetuated for centuries by the colonial perpetrator. Whilst I do believe that the comments made by Dr Lushaba were morally insensitive, especially at such a crucial time within the Jewish community, I do agree that the underlying message he wished to convey is clear - that the plight of black people must not be overshadowed or overlooked within any historical context. In order to do this, we must first understand the histories controlled by Western colonialists.

Opinions

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

Page 11

Online learning is exclusionary Education must be accessible on all grounds. By Ntsako Mlambo VARSITY Contributor

very corner of the world is tearing at the seams because of COVID-19 with the pandemic leaving many undone in several ways. We have had extensive time to lock ourselves indoors and detach a little from reality. Public spaces like universities, schools and restaurants have not been functioning at optimal levels. This has not only affected the economy but the livelihoods of all South Africans, especially in the education sector. During a time when we can no longer be physically connected, a lot of universities and high schools are forced to depend on technology and go online. Online learning has made us aware that some are more privileged than others and that education is not

Source: pxhere.com

as accessible to the majority when structured online. Not all students come from conducive working environments and not all homes have Wi-Fi or good network connectivity.

“Online learning has made us aware that some are more privileged than others and that education is not as accessible to the majority when structured online.” Some do not even have electricity or enough space to work in. Education thus becomes inaccessible to those who do not come from privileged

backgrounds. While UCT has chosen to continue remote learning, other learning institutions have opened their doors at last. Stellenbosch University has chosen to go back to physical and contact learning with the only difference now being that it is COVID-19 regulated. This benefits students from all backgrounds who are able to fulfil their desire of getting a quality tertiary education with students no longer having to worry about their mental health, network connectivity, or having a proper learning space in which to work.

Other learning institutions can draw inspiration from this. Having people come back to student residences and campus is not a problem; the problem lies in the conduct of the people there.

“Having people come back to student residences and campus is not a problem; the problem lies in the conduct of the people there.” If UCT continues to instruct via online platforms, they must consider the livelihoods of all students and how emotionally and mentally de-

manding the whole experience can be. Stellenbosch has opened up their doors of learning. It’s about time UCT should do the same. The crumbs that The Academy has thrown as an excuse for diversity are like taking five steps forward and ten steps back. We can only hope that in the future The Academy prioritises, truly and genuinely, the need for the stories of the marginalised to be represented wholly and create new initiatives which push legitimate and authentic diversity rather than cautious tokenism.

DISCLAIMER This section of the VARSITY is a vehicle for expression, on any topic by members of the UCT community. The opinions within this section are not necessarily those of the VARSITY collective or its advertisers. Letters to the Editor need to be kept at a maximum of 300 words and can be sent to: editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Opinions

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

Page 12

Online University: The New Status Quo? UCT has made the decision to continue with online learning for 2021, a smart decision considering our current COVID-19 climate. By Simbarashe Mawere VARSITY Contributor

ith the current global atmosphere, a common worry amongst students is that this pandemic is ceaselessly never ending and campus will not be reopening fully anytime soon. Despite the “good news” that it is now legal for us to open fully, only a handful of faculties are actually engaging in face-to-face learning. The fact is that what we want, which is human connection, is largely contradictory to what we need, which is our health, safety, and the eradication of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am not one to subscribe to overplayed sayings, but I do believe that when in doubt, choose the lesser of two evils. The only two options at hand are fully reopening campus to full capacity or stay-

Source: news.uct.ac.za

ing partially functional for an indefinite period of time. Indubitably, the only viable option is the latter, and if solely up to me, campus would continue to be shut down for a while longer.

eryone else’s efforts will go to naught. Simply put, there will always be individuals with the “if I don’t isolate, the next person will” mentality. Factor that attitude to over 26 000 students and we would have another outbreak on I remain a realistic our hands with campessimist at this curpus once again being rent time because one closed down. fact is still evident: COVID-19 is alive and spreading. As a mat- “But after a year of ter of fact, given the duly adjusting, our reopening of campus, education is now intrinsically linked to it is laughable to asthe online space.” sume that us, as students, will follow the I do not mean to be rules religiously and consistently over the unsympathetic to the course of the year. students who are failAnd if but one person ing to cope with this breaks the rules, ev- shift in status quo as

much as others; their point of view on these matters is very much relevant. A university education is more than just the course information; it is the experience and the environment as well. “So, the question is: is it really worth it to reopen campus at this point in time? I will answer for you: no.” But after a year of duly adjusting, our education is now intrinsically linked to the online space. The university has made a fair number of efforts to make this online learning more tolerable in the form of self-

paced lecture videos, online meetings, and downloadable course content. In other words, this kind of education is the established status quo for the time being. While I would have loved to get the proper UCT first-year campus experience, I have had to make concessions because if I decided to stop now, there is a risk of spreading the virus to other students and making our overall situation that much worse. So, the question is: is it really worth it to reopen campus at this point in time? I will answer for you: no.

www.varsitynewspaper.co.za

Opinions

30 April 2021 | Volume 80 | Edition 1

Page 13

First Year in 2021 An auspicious feat marred by catastrophic, baneful calamity.

By Asemahle Ntoyakhe Staff Writer

hen the class of 2020 received their eagerly anticipated examination results, and chose to attend the prestigious institution of the University of Cape Town, their dreams did not involve this currently pernicious experience void of jubilation. The customary recurrence of first-year students entering higher education institutions and immersing themselves within campus culture, has inherently been sophistical for the freshers of this year. To this unfortunate group of students, the notion of the first year of university being exploratory and invaluable, with a substantial number of new friendships being cultivated, has simply been an aberration.This is the consensus amongst the incoming students of this year, in which 96% feel they have not been afforded opportunities to foster friendships. These students have been disproportion-

Source: Lerato Maduna

ately affected by the university’s COVID-19 protocol– which has been to keep campus low-density.

“To this

unfortunate group of students, the notion of the first year of university being exploratory and invaluable, with a substantial number of new friendships being cultivated, has simply been an aberration.” As a result, highly anticipated and socially beneficial occurrences such as “the fresher’s braai” and orientation week have been cancelled, thus abrogating the potential conversion of these events into

rendezvous amongst familiarised students. Students have therefore had to rely on limited interactions in dining halls as their preeminent source of interaction. Subsequently, 86% percent of first year students feel as if they have been relatively unsuccessful in conceiving relationships of substance, thus the sentiments of loneliness being encapsulated. Students also await in-person lectures in order to acquire a form of social interaction. However, most faculties have a single designated day per week on campus, thus further accentuating the conundrum of the lack of social integration of first year students. The university quixotically declares itself an inclu-

DISCLAIMER

sive institution,making concessions for students academically, as well as advocating for the social integration of all students. However, students feel that they implement vacuous use of words such as diversity and inclusivity in their marketing brochures, but they do not take the necessary actions to make sure that either of these materialise. It is therefore utterly astonishing how they have displayed a tremendous amount of ineptitude, in the managing and accommodation of incoming students. Multitudes of students believe that the university could have manoeuvred alternatively to what has transpired, in order to address their social apprehensions.

Creative solutions have been suggested by the first years, namely: the designating of a “first year buddy”, in order to acquaint students; the allocation of a place of leisure exclusively for first years, in order to provide a platform for social interaction; the conducting of an orientation week – as some students reportedly only received a map and had to out how to get to certain places; and a greater frequency of lectures on campus. These are solutions which definitely seem viable for the incoming classes of forthcoming years. Note: Figures used in this article are taken from a survey of 28 first year students.