Racism rife at Tuks hostels

AfriForum learned on Monday, 21 November 2016 that a student of the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Taaibos Hostel had written racist and provocative remarks against white people on the outside of his hostel room door.

The remarks “The Devil is White = F*ck you” and “Keep calm and bring back the Land, mother f*ckers” were written on the student’s hostel room door on 15 and 17 November this year.

Although the matter has been brought to the housemaster’s attention, he is yet to act. AfriForum Youth therefore submitted a complaint to the UP and demands that the student be expelled from the hostel and that disciplinary action be taken against him.

Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum Youth’s Tuks Coordinator, says that this is not the first time this year that radical, racist and offensive remarks were made against white people on the UP’s campus.

“We would like to see the UP acting against students who incite violence and racism on campus and who ignore the University’s policies in this manner. We have yet to see any action from the University against previous cases and demand the UP to act in a stricter manner.”

Grobbelaar also says that the particular student is a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters Students’ Command (EFF SC) on campus and that many a complaint has been brought against members of this organisation.

“A hostel is supposed to be a safe haven for students where they can learn, live and participate in healthy student activities without being confronted with politics and racism. Private hostels such as De Goede Hoop offer a good alternative to students who are tired of being political punch bags. It provides a safe environment where students can simply be students without being pulled into politics against their will,” Grobbelaar adds.