AfriForum Youth condemns EFF’s promotion of racism, division and violence at Tuks

Insists on deregistration of student association

This is a clear and deliberate call for violence against a minority group and incites racism, division and hostility between students. This is how AfriForum Youth describes the actions of the EFF’s student association, EFF Student Command (EFFSC), during a public lecture that the EFF leader, Julius Malema, presented on Friday, 11 October on the main campus of the University of Pretoria (UP). During this lecture, EFFSC members chanted, among other things, “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”. AfriForum Youth strongly condemns this action and repeats its earlier call for the deregistration of the EFFSC as a recognised student association.   

AfriForum Youth further demands that UP management make a formal, written apology to UP students as the university gave approval for this event despite Malema’s track record of racial division and discriminatory rhetoric, which is in conflict with the university’s policy of promoting an inclusive and non-discriminatory environment.

“Inviting a speaker with a reputation for promoting racism and division was not only irresponsible but also shows a deep lack of respect for students who are already being targeted by the EFFSC’s hate speech,” says Yvonne Gerber, Youth Development Officer at AfriForum Youth.

The EFFSC has been involved in several incidents of racism, intimidation, disruptive protest action and violence at UP over the past five years. According to Gerber, this behaviour undermines campus safety and unity and amounts to a violation of the UP’s Constitution for Student Governance. “There is room for freedom of expression, but under no circumstances should it involve hate speech or the incitement of violence. UP’s Constitution for Student Governance Bill of Student Rights regards equality as a right, and yet the university allows a group that blatantly disregards this right to still function freely on campus,” adds Gerber. “The university’s failure to scrutinise the EFFSC’s repeated violations is unacceptable and decisive action must be taken to protect students from further harm. Hate speech, racism and violence on campuses must not be normalised.”

Maree van den Berg, Chairperson for AfriForum Youth’s Tuks branch, emphasises the seriousness of the situation: “To give a person known for the racial tension and division he sows an opportunity to give a lecture on campus is outrageous. The university thereby approves, as it were, the incitement to violence and racism.”