The UCT - Cecil John Rhodes Statue Thread

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Cape Town - A band of “tokoloshes” desecrated a statue of Cecil John Rhodes at UCT early on Thursday - on the eve of a debate about whether Rhodes’ statue should be removed from its current location at the centre of the university’s Upper Campus.

Tokolos Stencils, a collective of anonymous graffiti artists in Cape Town, claimed responsibility via their website on Thursday. The collective challenges the status quo of inequality in South African society, and aims to motivate ordinary citizens to “fight” for “freedom and justice”.

Their trade mark stencil consists of the words “Remember Marikana” and a reproduction of an iconic image from the strikes which led to the Marikana massacre.

The image is that of Marikana workers’ leader Mgcineni Noki (popularly known as “the man in the green blanket”) who was killed by police along with 33 other strikers in August 2012.

The stencil was also splashed outside Cosatu’s provincial headquarters in Salt River and the ANC’s offices in Mowbray, on Thursday. Tokolos considers Cosatu and the ANC to have been complicit in the massacre of miners at Marikana.

In a statement claiming responsibility for the UCT vandalism, Tokolos wrote: “In honour of all black UCT students whose land was stolen from their ancestors and whose natural re-sources were privatised by one Cecil John Rhodes.

“Tokolos reminds us that colonialism and the massacre at Marikana are not only interconnected but part of a long history of disposession, exploitation and murder of blacks (and especially poor blacks).”

UCT was outraged by the grafitti, saying that it was an “insult” to students and staff.

“UCT is investigating an act of vandalism and if we find the perpetrators we will take legal steps against their unlawful behaviour,” said media liaison Patricia Lucas. “Cecil John Rhodes is remembered at UCT for donating the property for our campuses. As much as he may have been a controversial historical figure, UCT is here because of his generosity.”

Rhodes was a businessman, mining magnate and politician who made a fortune in South Africa’s diamond mines and furthered Britain’s colonial project in Africa.

In a downloadable “heritage trail” document on the university’s website, a blurb about the statue admits that “his imperialist and racist attitude to Africa causes much controversy and resentment today”.

On Friday, in an event officially supported and encouraged by the university, students and staff will debate whether Rhodes’ statue should remain on campus. The debate is scheduled for 4.30pm (at Leslie Social LT1A).

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/tokoloshes-vandalise-rhodes-statue-1.1692902#.U4HP0nKSx8G

 

[saor]

In a downloadable “heritage trail” document on the university’s website, a blurb about the statue admits that “his imperialist and racist attitude to Africa causes much controversy and resentment today”.

Lolwut are they talking about the statue or Zuma? Can we take them both down at the same time then pls?

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

http://tokolosstencils.tumblr.com/post/86449142774/cecil-john-rhodes-statue-overlooking-the-green

"Cecil John Rhodes’ statue overlooking the Green Mile is a reminder of a man who held imperialist and racist views, but who also donated the [stolen] land on which UCT is built. Is it appropriate to give his memorial a place of honour on the UCT campus? Are we risking setting aside history? And should recognition of a gift extend into perpetuity?”

In honour of all black UCT students whose land was stolen from their ancestors and whose natural resources were privatised by one Cecil John Rhodes, Tokolos reminds us that colonialism and the massacre at Marikana are not only interconnected but part of a long history of dispossession, exploitation and murder of blacks (and especially poor blacks). Coz 1994 changed fokol.

 

[Mila]

Maybe we should ask them to read the country's history first.
And then maybe they should go paint a union or two's car.

 

[genetic]

 

[Guantanamo]

I'm on upper campus now actually, Gonna go have a look at this.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

UCT statue defaced with sewage

Earth to retards...UCT wouldn't be in such a picturesque place if it weren't for Rhodes (Rhodes donated the land in his will IIRC).

I wonder if these clowns are from the Ses'kohna Rights movement?

http://www.enca.com/south-africa/uct-statue-poured-poo

CAPE TOWN – A group of students poured sewage over the statue of Cecil Rhodes at the University of Cape Town during a protest on Monday.

UCT communication and media liaison manager, Patricia Lucas, confirmed the incident, adding that the statue has not been damaged and no injuries were reported.



Lucas said the university is investigating the matter and hopes to establish the identity of the protest organiser.

“The university has procedures in place to allow students to hold peaceful and safe protests on issues that concern them.

“The protesters did not follow such procedures, and by dumping excrement in a public place they violated the law. They did not inform UCT of their intention to demonstrate nor did they issue a statement to the university about the reasons for this protest,” said Lucas in a statement issued on Monday.





The group, which is claiming to represent black South Africans, said they are trying to create debate and awareness on how black people are treated at the university.

They also want universities around the country to disassociate themselves from Rhodes, who they say oppressed black people across the continent.

One of the protesting students is Chumani Maxwele, who in 2010 was arrested near the university for allegedly showing the middle finger at a convoy transporting President Jacob Zuma.

“It’s going to continue across the country."

"We are hoping to take this protest to Grahamstown because there is a statue in Rhodes University."

"When there is an art fair we want to take this protest there,” said Maxwele.

Lucas said legal steps will be taken once the identity of the protest organiser has been established.

“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 behavior,” she said.

 

[Mila]

In other countries we travel and go see the monuments, not to admire bad people but to marvel at history and how far a country has moved. Here? Here they burn everything. Soon tourists will have nothing to come see. ( at the rate our animals are poached none of that will be left.)

No we do not idolize these people. But it is part of history. Rather start building on tomorrow's history than being so focused on the past. This country will never get on the success curve as long as people are so focused on the past.

Lock them up, give them a permanent record and ban them from all learning institutions. They can study online or at unisa. Disgusting. SewagE? What kind of person did these parents raise.

 

[bekdik]

Obviously incapable of expressing themselves in any other way

 

[LazyLion]

These people really love wallowing in crap. I wonder if they eat it as well?

 

[yebocan]

sweet bloody lords...yeah, dumping crap all over the show, is going to get you a seat at the discourse table....if there is dissatisfaction, burn down infrastructure....if you want to raise awareness,....dump , a load of dumps...welcome to the future leaders of SA...

They also want universities around the country to disassociate themselves from Rhodes, who they say oppressed black people across the continent

. -yep Imperialist extraordinaire...in the same breath, the bloody university you are attending is thanks to him!

 

[Nerfherder]

Irony of protesting white arrogance while studying at a university.

I think they missed that.

 

[bekdik]

These people really love wallowing in crap. I wonder if they eat it as well?

Dunno about eat, but they do tend to spew it

 

[Space_Chief]

For a moment I though this was the defaced statue, but then Matieland has always been mellow.
https://uwizeyimana.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/img_1729.jpg

 

[AthenianOwl]

Fking useless monkeys If I were in power, I would order to have their brains removed because they apparently have never used them.

 

[Stokstert]

Now you ask why is racism escalating. Throwing schit around just shows their arrogance for the law and their k.k mentality. Do these guys really expect respect?

 

[FoXtroT]

Earth to retards...UCT wouldn't be in such a picturesque place if it weren't for Rhodes (Rhodes donated the land in his will IIRC).

I wonder if these clowns are from the Ses'kohna Rights movement?

http://www.enca.com/south-africa/uct-statue-poured-poo

I saw them there today, apparently some of them are from the PAC (honestly thought they had been relegated to the political graveyard) and some members of the SRC. This last part is even more disconcerting, although UCT SRCs in the past have been pretty useless and liked playing kiddy politics; at least they didn't act like some militant wing of the EFF. This years SRC has been quite a radical change from the past, they have already kicked out the original president and starting to act like some of the other radical SRCs.

 

[DA-LION-619]

Knew UCT was full of ****

 

[Grant]

wonder how would the headlines read if the statue was of steve biko or oliver tambo instead

 

[Sneeky]

it sucks when all the cool color hats are taken and all you are left with is a cycling jean pant, a pink lid and a lifetime of hate.