THANDI XABA
The University of the Free State(UFS) launched a No-to-Racism/Yes-to-Equality Campaign in March 2015 and today students and staff alike came together to publicly pledge their support and commitment to equality and the eradication of racism at UFS.
Deputy director of the Institute of Reconciliation and Social Justice JC van der Merwe says the pledge marks the ongoing debates integrated in the campaign.
"With the pledge we wanted to bring the university community together, not just celebrate the end of the campaign, just another milestone in the campaign. To say the conversation is going to continue. It is important for us as the university community to commit publicly to the values we believe in," he says.
According to Van Der Merwe, each of the UFS campuses will have the opportunity to place their thumbprint on a canvas to physically endorse the campaign. The Qwaqwa Campus will pledge on Wednesday April 15th, while the South Campus on Friday April 17th.
Prof. Jansen quotes of his speech at the pledge against racism “The root of a pledge to either do or not do something, a statement of action. When we in crisis, we get together to rectify the issue. Key to transformation is to understand each other, let’s try to understand the pain of our brothers and sisters.
As he explains the process of overcoming transformation he says real transformation is costly, it takes a toll on your body due to political pressure.
He also referred to Professor Russel Botman, rector and vice-chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch. Jansen said Botman dropped dead not due to biochemical reasons, but because of political pressure and transformation issues.
"He died in his sleep at the age of 60. Become an actor in history; rather than a complainer."
He further asked students to stop complaining and to do something about the issues at hand.
“Thank you for your commitment to Kovsies and to your country”.
