Tuks also have 'racist gangs'

2003-05-05 18:28

Pretoria - The SA Students' Congress (Sasco) said on Monday that the University of Pretoria (UP) was also the scene of the type of racist victimisation that a weekend newspaper reported was prevalent at Stellenbosch University.

A group of Afrikaans-speaking male students from House Maroela, a University of Pretoria (UP) hostel, assaulted a black student on the main campus last month, it said in a statement.

"We are... not surprised that this attack was launched by students from House Maroela since one of their hostel corridors [is] named 'Die Volkstaat' [and] black students are not allowed to stay [there] or walk through [it]."

Sasco said the assailants apparently wanted to cause racial polarisation on campus.

UP spokesperson Edwin Smith confirmed there had been an incident, but said it had not yet been established that it was of a racist nature.

"It might well be so. But it is irresponsible for anyone to label it thus before the internal investigation have been completed."

A committee was investigating the matter.

"We'll wait for the outcome of the process and not pre-empt it."

Smith said Sasco was doing a great injustice to the process itself.

"It is unfortunate that they saw it fit to take an internal matter and try and pronounce on it.

"It goes against their own credibility to create an atmosphere that does not necessarily exist on this campus."

Over the weekend it was reported that rightwing vigilante groups were victimising black, gay and Jewish students on the campus of the University of Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch University authorities have announced an investigation into the alleged victimisation.

Smith said Sasco-Tuks acted in an opportunistic way in the wake of this headline to push something "that is not necessarily the case.

"The university is committed to taking the appropriate action."

Smith said he was not aware of a corridor named "Die Volkstaat" in House Maroela from which black students were banned.

"I can't confirm or deny it."

- SAPA