Call for full probe into racism at universities

The UFS has asked for proposals on the future of its Reitz men's residence

About 500 students who marched to the Department of Education offices in Pretoria today have handed over a memorandum of demands.

They demand a full scale investigation into ongoing racism at all universities, as well as the dismissal of Education Minister Naledi Pandor. Education Director General Duncan Hindle accepted the memorandum on behalf of the Minister.

The South African Students Congress (Sasco) President, David Maimela, says there have been many racial incidents across various universities.

Unions will tomorrow picket for the second consecutive day in front of the main building of the Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). The picketing will lead up to a march on Friday. A memorandum of grievances will then be handed over to Pandor.

The memorandum demands, among others, that the university management be replaced and that transformation take place. The Free State chairperson of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, Sabata Ramotabo, says they are concerned about the slow pace of transformation at the university.

The march at the UFS is against the controversial video made by students from the Reitz residence on the campus of the university. The video shows a well orchestrated mock demonstration of the integration process.