Management remails silent on lack of security at TUKS
The AfriForum Youth student association at the University of Pretoria (UP) urgently appeals to the university management to prioritise the safety of all students on campus by deregistering the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) as a recognised student association. The events on campus in the past year, especially regarding the EFFSC’s disruptive actions at TUKS, have left the youth organisation deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of students.
Over the past five years, the EFFSC has been linked to several cases of violence, racial discrimination and unrest at TUKS. Last year, on 26 September, members of the EFFSC prevented students from entering the campus. It was part of a series of violent protests that included roadblocks, vandalism and the harassment of students. Despite several calls from organisations such as AfriForum Youth and the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO), the university management failed to take steps to deregister the EFFSC as a campus association. Instead, students are allowed to further be exposed to this kind of unrest. This is evidenced in the public lecture on political education that EFFSC is allowed to host today at the Thuto building. Julius Malema, controversial leader of the EFF, will be the keynote speaker. Malema is known for his inflammatory rhetoric, including public statements that perpetually cause division and racial tension on campus. Chants such as “Kill the Boer” and riotous behaviour in general incite an atmosphere of hostility and intimidation on campus.
“The EFF is known for its violent behaviour and that, especially on campuses, it sows division and hatred among the students. There should not be room for such groups at TUKS, therefore the university management must pay attention to AfriForum Youth’s request,” says Maree van den Berg, Spokesperson for AfriForum Youth’s TUKS branch.
This sentiment is echoed by Yvonne Gerber, Youth Development Officer at AfriForum Youth. She emphasises that students’ academic performance suffers if they are constantly worried about their safety. “Since certain groups are still allowed to disrupt the campus, it is clear that the safety of students is not a priority for TUKS’ management.”
Concern among the students is growing due to the university’s continued support of the EFF’s presence. Safety must be the university’s highest priority but it’s clear that the current management is failing to protect its students. For the sake of all students, the university is called upon to remove groups such as the EFFSC, which incite violence and racial hatred, as a recognised student associations on campus.
