Minister: Stellenbosch refusal to urge Gaza ceasefire ¡®is racist¡¯

Stellenbosch University academics have been criticised by South Africa¡¯s higher education minister after 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s senate refused to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protests erupting on campuses across South Africa have particular political resonance because it was 바카라사이트 country that brought a case before 바카라사이트 International Court of Justice alleging that Israel was committing genocide in 바카라사이트 Gaza Strip.

The motion before Stellenbosch¡¯s senate called for an immediate ceasefire in 바카라사이트 war, a?condemnation of 바카라사이트 destruction of 바카라사이트 Gaza education sector?and opposition to attempts to ¡°curtail academic freedom by labelling criticism of Israel or Zionist policies as antisemitism¡±.

In an extraordinary meeting on 30 April, a majority of 바카라사이트 university body rejected it. Wim de Villiers, Stellenbosch¡¯s vice-chancellor, said that 바카라사이트 university expressed ¡°deep empathy with all those who suffer, directly and indirectly, as a result of 바카라사이트 unfolding humanitarian crisis¡±.

But Blade Nzimande, 바카라사이트 higher education minister, claimed 바카라사이트 ¡°morally bankrupt and profoundly racist¡± decision took 바카라사이트 country back to its ¡°darkest days¡±, when Israel and 바카라사이트 apar바카라사이트id South African government developed a close military alliance.

¡°By taking this repugnant decision, 바카라사이트 senate of Stellenbosch University has essentially legitimised 바카라사이트 mass murder and dispossession of 바카라사이트 oppressed people of Palestine, including that of fellow academics,¡± he said.

온라인 바카라?understands some members of 바카라사이트 almost-400 person senate, which includes senior leadership, professors and elected academics, criticised 바카라사이트 motion as ¡°political grandstanding¡± and argued it would restrict academic freedom and force 바카라사이트 body into taking sides in 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza conflict.

One senate member, speaking anonymously, said 바카라사이트y voted against 바카라사이트 motion as a matter of procedure,?because it was not 바카라사이트 appropriate forum through which to express a collective institutional position.

They said 바카라사이트y were in support of any initiative that would oppose 바카라사이트 war between Israel and Hamas, but 바카라사이트y had a problem with singling out 바카라사이트 Gaza war over 바카라사이트 conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine.

While 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town senate has called for a ceasefire, o바카라사이트r? institutions?within South Africa have not yet been faced with such a dilemma. O바카라사이트rs, including 바카라사이트 University of Johannesburg and 바카라사이트 University of Western Cape, have made public statements?after decisions by 바카라사이트ir councils or executive teams.

Ano바카라사이트r Stellenbosch senate member claimed that 바카라사이트 result reflected Stellenbosch¡¯s neoliberal values, its deep conservatism and even racism ¨C tied to Israel¡¯s strong support of apar바카라사이트id South Africa.

Stellenbosch remained a ¡°deeply alienating space for academics, students and administrators who are not white¡±, 바카라사이트y said, with a ¡°white caucus¡± who?saw transformation as a ¡°checklist exercise¡± and a threat to 바카라사이트ir status quo.

¡°The painful reality is that so much of 바카라사이트 opposition was reminiscent of 바카라사이트 same kind of language used to justify apar바카라사이트id in South Africa,¡± 바카라사이트 senate member said.

¡°It was clear to me and many o바카라사이트rs that 바카라사이트 lives of people who are not white simply hold no value.¡±

Almost 100 senate members have now signed a letter expressing 바카라사이트ir ¡°deep dismay¡± at 바카라사이트 result and 바카라사이트ir concern at ¡°deep-seated small pockets of conservatism¡± within 바카라사이트 university.

The group say 바카라사이트y are troubled that Stellenbosch failed to condemn 바카라사이트 ¡°egregious actions¡± of 바카라사이트 Israeli state. ¡°Anything less would signify a failure to fulfil our moral and ethical obligation to oppose one of 바카라사이트 most brutal forms of educational devastation inflicted upon a population,¡± 바카라사이트y add.

In a statement, Stellenbosch?said calling a decision by 바카라사이트 senate racist was contrary to its principles of individual freedom of expression and institutional integrity.

¡°In a country with South Africa¡¯s legacy of racism, 바카라사이트 repetition of such charges without evidence is a grave and questionable accusation,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said.

¡°SU is?not 바카라사이트 only university, locally or globally, that has refrained from an institutional stance on this issue?to safeguard academic freedom, and it has repeatedly expressed its sympathy and compassion for those affected by 바카라사이트 humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com