CELEBRATE TWO DECADES KEEPING MADIBA’s leGACY ALIVE OF DEMOCRACY WITH SA’s VICE–CHANCELLOR, DR MAX PRICE TOP MUSICIANS The University of Cape Town joins the mark against oppression, injustice and quently come under attack. As scholars we The Safety & Violence Initiative focuses nation in celebrating 20 years of freedom. inequality over the past decades. have a role to play in defending the inde- on understanding and intervening in the This week, our commemoration culmin- UCT students played an important role pendence of the judiciary and in continu- promotion of safety and the reduction of Join Vusi Mahlasela, PJ Powers, Freshlyground, Mi Casa goes back to his incarceration on Robben Island, when ates in a special programme in honour ing to make the case for the independence violence in South Africa. The Schools and the UCT campus community to celebrate two dec- academics and students demonstrated their support in in support of the liberation struggle - of the late President Nelson Rolihlahla of the chapter nine institutions. We have Improvement Initiative is a response ades of democracy in an once-in-a-lifetime concert to be numerous ways. His legacy and South Africa’s democratic from demonstrating against crackdowns CELEBRATING Mandela. Although a memorial assembly on academic freedom in the 1950s to a duty to bring our research and teaching to the education crisis in South Africa held in a massive weather-proof marquee on the Univer- progress will be commemorated before the artists take to was held on Jammie Plaza at the time of resources to bear on finding ways to pro- sity’s rugby fields on 22 May 2014. the stage. standing in solidarity against police bru- with direct interventions in Khayelitsha 20 YEARS OF Mandela’s death, this occurred during the tality during the June 1976 uprisings and mote the progressive implementation of schools. The Poverty & Inequality Initi- May is also the month that UCT observes its annual Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy some of the country’s university vacation and we decided to protesting against bannings and deten- socio-economic rights, which are a signal ative stimulates and coordinates relevant Africa Month – a period in which all things African are favourite artists as they acknowledge the historic steps that hold over the principal ceremony celeb- tion without trial, inequality and the con- feature of our Constitution. For the uni- research nationally. The African Climate showcased and celebrated. The 20 Years of Freedom con- brought South Africa into this, our 20th year of freedom. FREEDOM rating his life until a time when all stu- traventions of human rights, over several versities to play this role, as independent, & Development Initiative brings together cert’s line-up reflects the very best in South African enter- Book your ticket at Computicket now. dents and staff could participate. decades of apartheid. critical, innovative voices, whether on the tainment, and the artists promise this will be an evening academics with NGOs, business and gov- Tickets are R230 for members of the public, but there As we reflect on the legacy that Man- While often vociferously opposing the health of our political system or on the ernment to test new insights, evidence to remember. development challenges facing SA, we are special concessions for UCT staff and students. The dela has left us and remember him with apartheid government, we also acknow- and innovations that will help to solve need to defend our autonomy and aca- 22 May will also mark another significant occasion in latter must book at the Computicket outlet in the Baxter AT UCT love, hope and inspiration, we are re- ledge that we did not stand up against Africa’s climate and development chal- the University’s history, as it commemorates its association demic freedom. Theatre. On production of a UCT identity card, students naming Ring Road on Upper Campus the system as ardently as we should have. lenges. with Nelson Mandela by renaming one of the main cam- pay R90 and staff pay R180. Only two tickets per person as Madiba Circle / Madiba Sirkelpad / In 1968, the UCT Council was accused It’s clear from protests such as the ‘We THURSDAY, 22 MAY 2014 We hope, through our research, teach- pus thoroughfares, Ring Road, as Madiba Circle. will be distributed. UCT financial aid students will pay Isekile kaMadiba. of buckling under government pressure Say Enough’ march last year, that stu- ing and social responsiveness, to con- Though he was a frequent visitor to campus in the 1990s R50 for one ticket, on production of their student card COME EARLY: GATES OPEN AT 17H00 As a university, we particularly celebrate after rescinding the appointment of es- dents and staff want to make a stand. and early 2000s, Mandela’s connection with the University and financial aid letter. Mandela’s lifelong commitment to educa- teemed African scholar, Professor Archie Thousands gathered on campus to march tinue making important contributions tion. We also give effect, as an institu- Mafeje. The decision sparked an outcry against South Africa’s spiralling crime towards addressing the challenges that RUGBY FIELD C, UPPER CAMPUS tion, to the values he espoused – bringing among students. Discrimination and se- against women and children in South beset our country. For more information, please visit the UCT website together people across the divides of race, gregation manifested at UCT through- Africa shortly after the brutal gang rape As we celebrate 20 years of freedom, gender, religion and class. out the decades. and murder of teenager Anene Booysens. we will continue to strive to uphold the Direct queries to [email protected] or telephone 021 650 4976 Madiba always made a point of acknow- With apartheid no longer attacking our But speaking out against injustice is ideals Nelson Mandela stood for - equal- ledging the many people in South Africa freedoms, the current challenges we need not enough. We want to impact on ity, freedom and non-racialism. We owe who fought for freedom and justice. At to grapple with may not on the surface the lives of South Africans in a more it to him – and all those who made sac- UCT, at this time of celebration of our seem as urgent as before. However, we direct way, through socially responsive rifices on the road to democracy – to do democracy, we also pay tribute to the stu- still need to support our constitution and research. The following are examples of everything we can to make South Africa a TAKING A STAND dents and faculty who have made their its founding principles, which not infre- four key initiatives. better place for all. UCT OVER THE DECADES 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000 – 2014 Those of us who During the 1950s the ruling National Academic freedom remained severely un- The 1970s was a watershed era for youth The 1980s saw a rise in student protests While UCT earned itself the nickname In March 2013, students and staff US President Barack Obama paid tribute Party embarked on the destruction of der threat during the 60s. UCT was at the politics, as student organisations garnered and unrest, with many students oppos- ‘Moscow on the Hill’ for its sustained op- gathered in their thousands for the “We to Mandela at UCT, saying that ‘Nelson spent the latter part academic freedom and the imposition of forefront of fighting to protect this free- huge support. Many students adopted a ing the reign of former Prime Minister position to apartheid, the tide turned with Say Enough’ protest against violent attacks Mandela showed us that one man’s cour- of that decade in university apartheid. UCT fought against dom. The university also vigorously objec- more militant approach, challenging sym- PW Botha and the states of emergency in the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990. on women and children. The protest was age can change the world’. He also called the gloomy cells of this vociferously and the students rose up ted to banning orders and the detention bols of authority. The 1976 Soweto upris- the country at the time. Many students A spirit of optimism on campus dovetailed held soon after the horrific gang rape and on students to make wise choices about in protest. of students and staff who protested against ing propelled many students into becom- also rallied around the End Conscrip- with the political changes, and transforma- murder of teenager Anene Booysens. their future. Robben Island will apartheid. Disheartened students received ing far more aware and inspired to change. tion Campaign, which opposed the con- tion gathered momentum. From the 1980s forever hold dear a boost during the visit of US Senator Protests were punctuated by students scription of all white South African men to the early 1990s, the number of black stu- Robert Kennedy, who gave one of the sem- speaking out against detention without into military service in the South African dents admitted to UCT rose by 35%. the memory of the inal speeches of his career. The university trial, banning orders, and the erosion of Defence Force. In opposition to the gov- young men and wo- was also caught up in a controversy over freedom of speech. ernment, UCT embarked on a successful Professor Archie Mafeje. programme of recruiting black students. men of the Univer- Black students were housed in student sity of Cape Town dormitories in defiance of the Group Areas who raised funds Act. UCT also successfully opposed the ‘Quota’ Bill which tried to enforce racial to provide us with quotas at higher education institutions. books for study, Barack Obama addresses a packed Jameson Hall and collected their in 2013.