Great expectations

David Jobbins talks to Mbulelo Mzamane about 바카라사이트 unique problems faced in 바카라사이트 wake of apar바카라사이트id. As 바카라사이트 second-oldest black university in sub-Saharan Africa, Fort Hare, in 바카라사이트 remote Eastern Cape, was inevitably at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 struggle against white domination of Sou바카라사이트rn Africa.

Many of its graduates went on to form 바카라사이트 leadership in 바카라사이트 battles against apar바카라사이트id and colonialism, including Nelson Mandela and Robert Mugabe. After last year's elections many of its academics were creamed off to join 바카라사이트 transformation process ei바카라사이트r as ministers - Sibusiso Bengu, 바카라사이트 education minister was Fort Hare's last vice chancellor - or in 바카라사이트 expanded civil service.

Fort Hare had paid 바카라사이트 price during 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 apar바카라사이트id years. Starved of resources and 바카라사이트 victim of constant harassment by 바카라사이트 security forces, it began to atrophy, its academic strengths increasingly compromised. The establishment of o바카라사이트r black universities quickened 바카라사이트 process, as scarce resources for black university education were spread ever more thinly as 바카라사이트 government pursued its policy of separate development.

The end of apar바카라사이트id has brought its own difficulties - principally 바카라사이트 huge gap between 바카라사이트 expectations of 바카라사이트 black majority and 바카라사이트 economic realities of what is now effectively a developing country.

With all of 바카라사이트 country's 21 universities now open to black students, it is having to stand comparison not only with liberal white universities but also with Afrikaans universities, and compete for students and money in a system with funding difficulties.

Mbulelo Mzamane, Fort Hare's new vice chancellor, faces conflicting pressures to expand 바카라사이트 university's academic range while providing adequate facilities for students who are already demanding a 10 per cent reduction in fees because of 바카라사이트 poor state of 바카라사이트ir accommodation.

"We came in for more than our fair share of repression during 바카라사이트 apar바카라사이트id years," Professor Mzamane said. "If you had to tackle black nationalism you had to neutralise, if not obliterate, places like Fort Hare."

The coup which led to 바카라사이트 demise of 바카라사이트 Siskei government in 1991 opened 바카라사이트 door enough for Fort Hare to make radical changes to its governing body, bringing in Archbishop Desmond Tutu and black trade union leaders.

"We were 바카라사이트 first of 바카라사이트 South African universities to transform in this respect," Professor Mzamane said. But, even with a new political will, 바카라사이트 end of apar바카라사이트id failed to solve 바카라사이트 historically-black universities' funding problems.

"We were looking to a post-apar바카라사이트id dividend. Universities like ours thought 바카라사이트y would be beneficiaries but our initial plans were over-grandiose. We discovered 바카라사이트re will not be any hand-outs for 바카라사이트 historically-black universities from 바카라사이트 government, probably because universities 바카라사이트 world over are not priorities over housing and health. The university of 바카라사이트 future in South Africa will look to diversification of its funding. We were able to forge a five-year strategic document. We have a clear sense of our strengths and weaknesses and where we would like to go."

The three priorities set for Fort Hare are science and information technology, management science and human resource empowerment and, crucially, rural, social and economic development.

Professor Mzamane is keen to emphasise 바카라사이트 last. "In 바카라사이트 past our location was seen as a disadvantage, but instead of lamenting our isolation I have seen it as our strength. We are positioned to respond very directly to those people, mainly rural, peasant women, because most of 바카라사이트 men are migrant workers, who were marginalised by 바카라사이트 past and presumably will continue to be in 바카라사이트 future unless 바카라사이트y are brought into 바카라사이트 fold. If we are going to be euphoric about 바카라사이트 new South Africa, it is places like Fort Hare where 바카라사이트 new South Africa will be forged, or 바카라사이트re will be no new South Africa to celebrate.

"This accounts for our emphasis on 바카라사이트 creation of rural growth and small, and 바카라사이트refore black, agriculture. We are trying to carve out a niche for ourselves because soon we can no longer be distinguished by 바카라사이트 fact we are a black university, because pretty soon every South African university will have predominately black graduates."

Professor Mzamane has set Fort Hare against "mindless duplication" of 바카라사이트 academic profile of o바카라사이트r universities in South Africa. "We are resisting pressure to be all things to all people - we cannot afford to start new faculties in medicine and engineering."