Geoff Sifrin
TAKING ISSUE
Wits University Vice-Chancellor Adam Habib has taken a stand by officially removing Mcebo Dlamini from his elected position as SRC president for “misconduct”. This comes amidst a furore created by Dlamini declaring on Facebook: “I love Adolf Hitler”, which he reportedly defended as follows: “If white people can say they love [apartheid-era prime minister DF] Malan, [Prime Minister BJ] Vorster, [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and Jan van Riebeeck, then I should also be allowed to say I love Hitler.”
The vice-chancellor’s decision that Dlamini must step down related to a separate matter of misconduct, not his Hitler statement and what Habib believed were “racist comments regarding whites”. However, these would also be looked into.
Anyone who knows Wits from the apartheid days, will remember a robust, proud institution in which the rallying cry for freedom of expression was loud and determined, defying efforts by the government and police to stifle it.
Courageous white SRC presidents at the time faced personal dangers for speaking out against racism towards black citizens. Given this history, it would be sad for Wits to stifle anyone’s freedom of expression. Some would argue: So what’s the big deal if the SRC president says he loves Hitler? Maybe he’s just a rebellious young man – the rebelliousness of youth is the engine which drives change in this world.
But it’s ironic how the wheel has turned. In post-apartheid South Africa, a black SRC president now wants his freedom of speech protected so he can sprout racist comments about whites.
Not easy these days to be Wits’ vice-chancellor. Habib cannot solve the “root causes” of the country’s problems – poverty, racism, collapsing school system, chasm between the haves and have-nots and so on. But on his shoulders rests the university’s good name.
The dilemma is not new to him. He came into the position in 2013 when Israel Apartheid Week was being held on campus accompanied by demonstrations about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Not an easy time to start, as he was struck full face with the violent disruption by SRC members of Israeli-born pianist Yossi Reshef ’s concert 15 minutes into Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata, after they forced the door.
The incident raised many eyebrows about how such a thing could happen at this renowned university. A disciplinary process against 11 students was set up.
Since then, Habib has endeavoured to re-establish the dignity and integrity of Wits as a place where different viewpoints can be freely expressed. He said at the time that he intended making it one of the great universities of the world.
People who studied there in the past are not going to tear up the degrees they earned because of Dlamini. But what should Wits alumni, students and supporters do? Walk away and let it become a third rate institution? A university is a precious thing. Its credibility must be earned over a long time and is hard to regain once lost.
Meanwhile, classes continue at Wits. People who teach there say standards are still of an acceptable level. But a university degree’s value is influenced by the public image of the institution itself. The public image of Wits is plummeting – along with that of the country as a whole.
Habib disagreed with the argument that the university’s commitment to free speech meant Dlamini should be excused for his comments. “As someone who claims to love this institution, I believe that Mr Dlamini has single-handedly wrought more damage on its reputation than any other person who I can think of in at least the last two decades…
“This damage has the potential to impact on the credibility of our degrees, and therefore on the employment prospects of all of our students and graduates.”
Removing Dlamini will not solve the root causes behind his behaviour. But it would be a sad day if the university itself became a victim of those root causes.
- Geoff Sifrin is former editor of the SAJR. He writes this column in his personal capacity.
nat cheiman
May 6, 2015 at 1:56 pm
‘Habib has made it clear that Dlamini was NOT removed because of his Hitler love affair. Dlamini assaulted a senior lecturer a year ago. Habib, in my opinion is far too lenient. There are letters in all the newspapers today by people saying they loved Verwoerd and PW Botha. So what!!!!!! At least everything worked at the time notwithstanding.
However, Dlamini is a product of todays (lack of) education.’
Jonni
May 7, 2015 at 11:29 am
‘Is Nat supporting The Nats ? Things always worked in Right wing Fascist countries. That doesn’t justify their human rights violations.
I am shocked at Nat’s comment.’
abu mamzer
May 9, 2015 at 3:14 pm
‘Dlamini? sounds like a Swazi name to me,no I don’t mean to be xenophobic.
\nSend him on the march of the living!
\n[Last sentence deleted – MODERATOR]‘
Rodger The Goy and Yok
May 12, 2015 at 3:38 am
‘The standard of debate on this website has deteriorated to a very low level .
I think that the Moderator should revisit his editing .
Being the victims of centuries old persecution doesn’t give the persecuted the right to resort to vilification of others,nor the licence to stereotype which is commonplace in many of the readers’ comments.’
Josh
May 12, 2015 at 6:37 am
‘At least things worked. wow. Nat let me just tell you I full agree with Jonni its right wing and left wing extremists who are ruining this world. As a Libertarian I must say I fully support freedom of speech and I agree with Mr Sifrin on his point where he says \”it would be sad for Wits to stifle anyone’s freedom of expression.\” But we also need to never forget the responsibility of expression either.
A persons rights end where my nose begins. Never be allowed to use free speech and free expression to set the world back from how far we’ve come.
We need to establish what the root cause is of these younger guys coming in and using race as a soap box. After all race is nothing to be proud or ashamed of. Race simply is. One can no more take credit for being white or black then one can for ones gender. But in my opinion it is the fact that we put as a global society so much stock in the physical concept of self. And lets be honest it is difficult to believe in yourself these days because the very idea of self is an artificial construct. We are all in fact part of the glorious oneness of the universe. Everything beautiful in the world is within us. We must stop lumping races, religions or groups of people together by the actions of others. Racism is simply illogical in any form. But what do these young guys have to believe in? Religion breeds elitism for the most part, politicians lie and we see our brothers and sisters do the most heinous things because they put corporate greed before human need. What is left to believe in? Self, pride of self and anger. Best way to stop this is to accept we are all part of the same infinite consciousness a simple beautiful choice to wake up from the mental prisons we not only created for ourselves but keep ourselves locked in as warden and prisoner simultaneously.
‘