Open Stellenbosch Statement on the SASCO led Mass Democratic March to Stellenbosch University.
Since April the OpenStellenbosch Collective, supported by SASCO Stellenbosch, has been calling for the eradication of the Apartheid Culture that exists at Stellenbosch University. Open Stellenbosch is a non-partisan movement, which seeks to purge the remnants of Apartheid at Stellenbosch University. Among many other priorities is the language policy that discriminates against Black Students in lectures and makes us second-class citizens in this University. It must be stressed that the eradication of the discriminatory language policy is very important and must happen as soon as possible. It is this language policy that is setting up many black students for failure and exclusion, while privileging Afrikaans speakers only.
The struggle against the language policy and the Apartheid Culture at Stellenbosch University does not belong to OpenStellenbosch alone. Many students have taken on this struggle since 1996, with many defeats and victories along way. We find ourselves in a time of escalation in this struggle, we are fortunate to have been passed on this revolutionary baton that advances for true equality and greater access in Higher Education. The fight that OpenStellenbosch is leading belongs to all Black Students and people who believe in a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it. Activists against discrimination come from different races, classes, cultures and affiliations and are united by their vision of a non-discriminatory society. Hence we stood in solidarity with SASCO’s march. The SASCO Mass Democratic March was in line with our call to change the discriminatory language policy, and put an end to the Apartheid Culture at Stellenbosch University.
Open Stellenbosch supports peaceful demonstrations that call for social justice at our university and society at large. Hence we encouraged our members and other progressive student groups to stand in solidarity with SASCO in their personal capacity. Nonetheless, our non-partisan stance meant that our banner could not fly physically. Lastly, we would like to thank SASCO for hosting a peaceful and successful march, which strengthens our collective stance against the Apartheid Culture at Stellenbosch University.
FORWARD WITH STUDENT STRUGGLES!
SISONKE MFUNDI!
