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UCT apologises for not accepting Suttner’s thesis in 1969

Raymond Suttner
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The University of Cape Town (UCT) has apologised for rejecting the thesis of Academic, Journalist and Author, Raymond Suttner because he quoted a banned person, Jack Simons in his work.

Suttner is expected to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Law at the University of Cape Town in December this year, 49 years after his thesis was declined due to apartheid laws.

The thesis he wrote in 1969 has been gathering dust because according to strict academic rules at the time, he was not allowed to quote a listed communist, Jack Simons.

The ex-political prisoner, Professor Suttner says as a 23-year-old law student at the time, he took a principled decision not to submit the thesis which is more than 130 pages and examines African Customary Law.

UCT which is in the process of redressing some of the apartheid policy injustices read about his plight in a book he has written.

The institution invited Suttner to resubmit his thesis.  It took him about five months to locate the copy which was typed manually on a manuscript.

UCT spokesperson, Elijah Moholola says: “UCT recognises that moments like these are about not only celebrating the proudest part of our heritage but identifying and remedying those parts of our heritage where injustices have been committed.”

As a scholar Suttner has held teaching positions at six South African universities.

73-year-old Suttner says he did not have to change the contents of his thesis but merely reworked the introduction.

“There are a lot of other cases, similar cases, but not quite the same of people who lost their degrees because of apartheid laws; and I think that needs to be remembered. But in fact we need to remember the man who I have wanted to quote is Jack Simons and his work needs to be studied by people …”

His wife and fellow academic, Associate Professor Nomboniso Gasa says it is good for UCT to abandon apartheid policies.

“Raymond’s sacrifice ends up with a positive story like this and I think a lot of people say: Yeah, good work is always rewarded! But I think the most important thing about this is that you must not make decisions hoping that you will be rewarded later. You must actually make decisions on principle because you believe in that.”

Suttner is expected to graduate on the 14th of December at UCT.

His research interests include politics, history, sociology, gender and sexuality, law, criminology.

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