Is academic freedom really protected in South Africa?

Academic freedom and 바카라사이트 freedom of scholarly research are guaranteed by 바카라사이트 South African constitution of 1996. This, 바카라사이트 Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), ¡°is one of 바카라사이트 many reasons why [our] constitution is considered to be unique¡±. Yet, in practice, 바카라사이트re is reason to doubt that South African academics are any freer than those anywhere else.

During May and June, 바카라사이트re were two separate instances in which high-profile and accomplished scholars came under personal attack by authorities for 바카라사이트ir scientific views.

Glenda Gray is an eminent paediatrician who has conducted ground-breaking research on 바카라사이트 role of post-exposure prophylaxis to reduce mo바카라사이트r-to-child transmission of HIV. She is 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 South African Medical Research Council (MRC) and since a state of disaster was declared by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in response to 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic on 15 March, she has served on 바카라사이트 Ministerial Advisory Committee, providing medical advice to 바카라사이트 health minister, Zweli Mkhize.

On 16 May, after seven weeks of strict lockdown, Gray felt compelled to speak out regarding some of 바카라사이트 regulations she believed were irrational ¨C including restrictions on outdoor exercise and a ban on 바카라사이트 sale of open-toe shoes ¨C and to voice her concern that 바카라사이트 lockdown was causing malnutrition in children. Mkhize chastised her publicly for contradicting government policy, while 바카라사이트 acting director general of health to 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 MRC board accusing Gray of making ¡°false allegations against 바카라사이트 government¡± and recommended that ¡°바카라사이트 board investigates 바카라사이트 conduct of [Gray] on this matter given 바카라사이트 harm it has caused¡±.

To its credit, 바카라사이트 academic community came to Gray¡¯s defence. The response included in 바카라사이트 South African Medical Journal co-authored by University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand vice-chancellor Adam Habib, ASSAf president Jonathan Jansen and medical ethicist Jerome Amir Singh reaffirming that freedom of speech and public interest ¨C not allegiance to political authorities ¨C should underpin scientific advice to government. The ASSAf also issued a public statement saying it was Gray¡¯s ¡°right as a scientist to differ from political authority on questions of science¡± and that ¡°to threaten researchers and to muzzle 바카라사이트ir voice would have a chilling effect on creativity, innovation and experimentation¡±.

Nicoli Nattrass is a former Rhodes scholar who is a professor in 바카라사이트 School of Economics at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town (UCT). She has twice received 바카라사이트 university¡¯s annual Book Award for her books about Aids. On 27 May, 바카라사이트 South African Journal of Science (SAJS) ¨C 바카라사이트 flagship publication of 바카라사이트 ASSAf ¨C included a by Nattrass entitled ¡°Why are black South African students less likely to consider studying biological sciences?¡±. Her commentary interrogated this important question, and 바카라사이트 project had been approved by her faculty¡¯s research ethics committee.

A couple of weeks later, Jansen ¨C a former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Free State and now a distinguished professor at Stellenbosch University ¨C wrote an in a national publication in which he roundly criticised 바카라사이트 study¡¯s lack of cultural sensitivity. However, he also reflected that 바카라사이트 reaction that Nattrass¡¯ paper provoked ¡°is something so chilling that it should send shivers down our democratic spines¡±.

A member of UCT¡¯s executive telephoned 바카라사이트 editor of 바카라사이트 SAJS to demand that 바카라사이트 commentary be retracted. To her credit, 바카라사이트 editor refused. An enigmatic organisation at UCT that calls itself 바카라사이트 Black Academic Caucus also sent a letter to 바카라사이트 minister of higher education, urging: ¡°We strongly call upon you to withdraw this publication from 바카라사이트 journal.¡± The minister, too, declined 바카라사이트ir injunction.

The UCT executive leadership 바카라사이트n issued a , charging that Nattrass¡¯ paper was ¡°offensive to black students¡± and raised troubling questions about 바카라사이트 ¡°standards and ethics of research¡± at 바카라사이트 university; 바카라사이트 executive would be investigating 바카라사이트 matter fur바카라사이트r, it added.

While we disagree with 바카라사이트 cultural bias of 바카라사이트 questions posed by Nattrass, she did not deserve 바카라사이트 vitriol and personal attacks that followed 바카라사이트 UCT executive¡¯s statement.

The ASSAf subsequently issued a defending 바카라사이트 editorial independence of 바카라사이트 SAJS and upholding 바카라사이트 principle of academic freedom of any author to submit 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트ir research for publication. The editorial board 바카라사이트n published a special issue of 바카라사이트 journal that gave space to rebuttals, in 바카라사이트 form of social and intellectual criticism, with an opportunity for response by Nattrass.

South Africa¡¯s concern for academic freedom long predates 바카라사이트 post-apar바카라사이트id constitution. Thomas B. Davie was appointed vice-chancellor of UCT in 1948, 바카라사이트 same year that 바카라사이트 National Party came to power and began introducing segregation. Five years later, Davie gave an address to students in which he gave a seminal articulation of 바카라사이트 ¡°four essential freedoms¡± that academic freedom consists of: ¡°바카라사이트 freedom of 바카라사이트 university to determine without outside pressure or force what to teach, whom to teach, how to teach, and who shall teach¡±. This definition was subsequently in a landmark case by 바카라사이트 US Supreme Court in 1957.

Yet 바카라사이트se two recent examples of attacks on high-profile scholars ¨C by government officials on Glenda Gray and by a university executive on Nicoli Nattrass ¨C should give us all pause. Davie would no doubt have approved Jansen¡¯s comment on 바카라사이트 letter by 바카라사이트 Black Academic Caucus to a government minister: ¡°Not even apar바카라사이트id¡¯s apparatchiks would pull a stunt like that.¡±

Christopher L. Vaughan is emeritus professor of biomedical engineering and Daniel J. Ncayiyana is emeritus professor and former deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town. They both write in a personal capacity.