War on racism at universities to be intensified

Recent racist video expose at Free State University has sparked outrage in SA

The Western Cape Youth Commission and university student leaders in the province have resolved to intensify their fight against racism at all campuses.

This emerged at a media conference in Cape Town today and followed the recent racist video expose at Free State University. Commissioner Rudi Buys says to achieve this objective, a provincial summit on racism and social cohesion in education, will be held towards the end of the month.

They say they will continue furthering the cause of transformation and integration at all institutions of higher learning. The Commission plans to devise a strategy that will assist students in rejecting racial stereotypes and attitudes that emanate from home surroundings.

Buys says racism has its roots in the social and political history of the country. A student leader from Stellenbosch University, Brandon Como says racial integration on their campus has improved during the past two years.

Como says white students have been proactive in ensuring that black students are properly accommodated in hostels. He says strategies resolved by the Commission and student leaders will assist in making all campuses achieve cordial interracial relations among students.