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Our Society of Grahamstown applauds the appointment of Dr. Sizwe Mabizela as the first new Black Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University. He has come at the right time when some of the Previously White dominated Institutions are in need of intense Transformation, concerning the logistics to Social and Financial Structures.
The colour or origins of a person doesn’t necessarily mean he/she will add value, and bring social and economic balance in a Learning Institutions, that is at this juncture grasped by a crucial aspect of Racism. And confidence of the people of eRini will be established once he resolves the perception and image of Rhodes University to the outside world. I acknowledge that the Vice –Chancellor was voted in confidence by those who are in Office in regard to such matters and we do respect their vote of confidence to appoint Dr. Mabizela.
Firstly, his priority is to wipe the slate clean and take drastic measures that would drive the Academic Force at his disposal towards change and adopt a new Culture that is Community based, and inadvertently stop the perception of a bias Institution towards certain Racial Group/s.
Further more all Academic Institutions should adapt to the use of the Local Language of the Indigenous people, which subsequently will ensure that foreign students at least are equipped to partake in local community activities efficiently. The Learning Institutions Mandate should be understood as the Trainer and Provider of Human Capacity that would in future provide Services to sustain Human and Living Beings both in Private and Public Sectors, and also be able to outsource their acquired knowledge to Society. It is strange that you find most students at Rhodes will spend 3yrs of studying without ever setting foot in the Township of eRini, let alone speaking the local language of isiXhosa.
Dr. Mabizela has great huddles in front of him that are manageable, but only if he brings the University to the People and align the Educational and Social Activities Programme with the Township Dwellers. Rhodes University has alienated its students from the Township, and perhaps some of them they don’t even greet the Cleaners and Cookers they view them as just another bunch of people who belong to that shameful Community. I wonder how many of the Rhodes university students stay in the Township, contrary to the norm.
Secondly, the Vice-Chancellor should ensure that the University has on its Policy an Item that deals with Township Development of the Social and Economic Standards of the People and the Upgrade of the current dilapidated Infrastructure. This could be achieved by working on a Circular System that involves the Community; the Local Municipality; the Business Forum and the Learning Institutions in Grahamstown and thus includes the surrounding Farming Community. The way forward and the success of this Town involves total commitment of all the Stakeholders and the University has all the Structures needed to kick-start this phenomenal gesture aimed at improving the Quality of its citizens.
Lastly, it should be understood that the Black Students at UCT, are not angry at the statue of Rhodes but, contesting what it represent to the Students whose Parents where marginalized by the previously White Race and the same phenomenon is still prevalent to this day. Most Black students are struggling to get access to Financial Resources and the majority of them come from Communities deprived of Basic Human Necessities. How many Students from Grahamstown study at Rhodes University, and you wonder why the University has more Foreign students in its Campus. A Viable solution should quickly come forth to resolve the imbalances perpetrated by most previously White dominated universities, and that students are given the chance to receive the Education that their forefathers fought for and died in the Liberation Struggles to ensure that a Black Adult Person is able to provide for him/herself and his/her family, basic necessities without having to bask in the scorching sun waiting for charity or slaving for someone else. He/she should be Learned in the Skill of “survival” through the Education and Training he/she has received in an Academic Institution.
