{UAH} UCT students in poo protest against 'white imperialism'

UCT students in poo protest against 'white imperialism'

2015-03-10 12:58

A student protests near the Cecil Rhodes statue at UCT. (Twitter)

Cape Town - Students threw human excrement on a statue of Cecil John Rhodes on University of Cape Town (UCT) campus grounds during a protest on Monday.

Two members of the dozen protesters threw faeces and urine on the base of the statue. UCT spokesperson Patricia Lucas confirmed in a statement that the statue does not appear to be damaged and no injuries have been reported.

According to eNCA, the group of protesting students were claiming to represent black South Africans and said they were trying to create awareness and debate on how black people have been treated at the university.

One of the students, Chumani Maxwele, 30, told the Cape Times that he was protesting the "colonial dominance" still evident at UCT.

The students also want South African universities to disaffiliate themselves from Rhodes, who they said oppressed black people across the continent, reported eNCA.

According to the Cape Times, Maxwele pointed out that many black people with political knowledge disliked Rhodes and did not want to graduate in a building named after colonialist, Dr Leander Jameson.

Maxwele had told the Cape Times that other black students and professors had not participated in the protest for fear of being expelled.

An Independent Media photographer on scene, Ayanda Ndamane, was reportedly harassed by UCT security.

Lucas responded that the university will act if unlawful behaviour is found to have taken place on the part of students or staff members.

"Vandalism of UCT property and violating health laws is illegal and an insult to our students and staff as well as to the wider community that participates in events on campus. We do not condone such behaviour," said Lucas.

UCT is currently investigating the matter.

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