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| Why South Africa should keep Rhodes statue | Why South Africa should keep Rhodes statue |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The old symbols of white colonialism are still keeping the University of Cape Town (UCT) campus restless more than two decades after the end of apartheid. | The old symbols of white colonialism are still keeping the University of Cape Town (UCT) campus restless more than two decades after the end of apartheid. |
| The Student Representative Council (SRC) has been agitating about the statue of old colonialist Cecil John Rhodes. | The Student Representative Council (SRC) has been agitating about the statue of old colonialist Cecil John Rhodes. |
| It all began when student Chimane Maxwele tossed human excrement at the statue recently, demanding that it be taken down. | It all began when student Chimane Maxwele tossed human excrement at the statue recently, demanding that it be taken down. |
| The statue of Rhodes is at a prominent position of the campus. It's on the upper campus, overlooking the university's rugby fields on Madiba Circle, previously known as Rugby Road. The statue depicting Rhodes in a seated position was unveiled in 1934. | The statue of Rhodes is at a prominent position of the campus. It's on the upper campus, overlooking the university's rugby fields on Madiba Circle, previously known as Rugby Road. The statue depicting Rhodes in a seated position was unveiled in 1934. |
| Rhodes was an Oxford-educated politician and mining businessman, who played a key role in the expansion of British rule in southern Africa. | Rhodes was an Oxford-educated politician and mining businessman, who played a key role in the expansion of British rule in southern Africa. |
| The university's campus is on a site bequeathed to the nation by Rhodes - who owned vast tracks of land - for a national university. | The university's campus is on a site bequeathed to the nation by Rhodes - who owned vast tracks of land - for a national university. |
| Eurocentric | Eurocentric |
| SRC head Ramahiba Mahapha, 23, told me the statue was "a symbol of institutional racism". | SRC head Ramahiba Mahapha, 23, told me the statue was "a symbol of institutional racism". |
| Mr Mahapa, a fourth-year student of philosophy, continued "there are more substantive issues of transformation that we are fighting for". | Mr Mahapa, a fourth-year student of philosophy, continued "there are more substantive issues of transformation that we are fighting for". |
| "The statue is just a symbol. We need to have more black students and more black academics. | "The statue is just a symbol. We need to have more black students and more black academics. |
| "The university is too Eurocentric. In a country where nearly 80% of the population is black, there are 1,500 academics at UCT and only 100 are black. That needs to change," the outspoken student leader said. | "The university is too Eurocentric. In a country where nearly 80% of the population is black, there are 1,500 academics at UCT and only 100 are black. That needs to change," the outspoken student leader said. |
| The university has said it recognises "divergent views" over the statue and that it is important to debate the matter. | The university has said it recognises "divergent views" over the statue and that it is important to debate the matter. |
| UCT vice-chancellor Max Price told the Cape Times that talks about removing the statue from the university campus were at a "stalemate". | UCT vice-chancellor Max Price told the Cape Times that talks about removing the statue from the university campus were at a "stalemate". |
| It is reported that while he was an active student in 1980s, Dr Price once called for the statue to be removed. | It is reported that while he was an active student in 1980s, Dr Price once called for the statue to be removed. |
| In an open letter this week Dr Price concluded: "I do not think the statue should be destroyed or hidden away. I just think it should not be there - it should be moved. | In an open letter this week Dr Price concluded: "I do not think the statue should be destroyed or hidden away. I just think it should not be there - it should be moved. |
| "This will not compromise our ability to record and debate the role Rhodes played in the city's and continent's history. | "This will not compromise our ability to record and debate the role Rhodes played in the city's and continent's history. |
| "And it will not change our acknowledgment that UCT acquired its site from the Rhodes estate, and the positive contribution that it has made to our institution and its students." | "And it will not change our acknowledgment that UCT acquired its site from the Rhodes estate, and the positive contribution that it has made to our institution and its students." |
| During demonstrations on campus, students were chanting "Rhodes must fall" and they carried a banner with the same message written on it. | During demonstrations on campus, students were chanting "Rhodes must fall" and they carried a banner with the same message written on it. |
| What's in a name? | What's in a name? |
| But not everyone holds the same view. | But not everyone holds the same view. |
| Trudi Makhaya, who studied as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, wrote in South Africa's Business Day newspaper that Rhodes was limited by the sexism and racism of his era but his scholarship endowments revealed a man who recognised some universal virtues. | Trudi Makhaya, who studied as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, wrote in South Africa's Business Day newspaper that Rhodes was limited by the sexism and racism of his era but his scholarship endowments revealed a man who recognised some universal virtues. |
| Ms Makhaya wrote: "These contradictions, Rhodes the pillager and Rhodes the benefactor, are a symbol of our country's evolution towards a yet to be attained just and inclusive order. | Ms Makhaya wrote: "These contradictions, Rhodes the pillager and Rhodes the benefactor, are a symbol of our country's evolution towards a yet to be attained just and inclusive order. |
| I agree with both the vice-chancellor and Mr Mahapa - the statue must not be destroyed but the university can do without a symbol of racism and colonialism in a post-Nelson Mandela era. | I agree with both the vice-chancellor and Mr Mahapa - the statue must not be destroyed but the university can do without a symbol of racism and colonialism in a post-Nelson Mandela era. |
| There was no love lost between the English- and Afrikaner-speaking peoples in the era leading up to the Anglo-Boer war of 1899-1902. | There was no love lost between the English- and Afrikaner-speaking peoples in the era leading up to the Anglo-Boer war of 1899-1902. |
| Rhodes wanted the British to control the Boer republics. But even when the Afrikaners came to dominate the country, they left his statue alone. | |
| There are many symbols of white supremacy and colonialism in modern-day South Africa such as street names, the names of towns and even monuments which still evoke deep emotions among black people. | There are many symbols of white supremacy and colonialism in modern-day South Africa such as street names, the names of towns and even monuments which still evoke deep emotions among black people. |
| It would be a shame if this was the start of a historical tit-for-tat. | It would be a shame if this was the start of a historical tit-for-tat. |
| What if in another hundred years someone calls for Mandela's statue to be removed? |