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UCT students suspended over illegal occupation

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Fourteen students at the University of Cape Town have thus far been suspended for occupying Avenue house, an administrative building that forms part of the student housing system at UCT. These students form part of the Rhodes Must Fall Movement (RMFM). This movement was founded in the early stages of March when students took to protest for the removal of the Cecil John Rhodes statue, erected at the rugby field at UCT. The statue was subsequently removed from its place and the movement continues to grow.

“Our goal now goes beyond the falling of a statue but it is about dealing with the colonial legacy of this institution (UCT) and calling for the decolonisation through the curriculum,” Alex Hotz, a member of the RMFM explained.

“We want to see other changes in the way workers are treated at this institution, we want to see more black professors and we want to have an Afrocentric African university”.

Students behind this movement still continue to occupy Avenue house. The university granted these students an amnesty period which has subsequently expired on Monday night.

“The university wants to do things on their terms, to say that they are granting us amnesty means that we have done something bad and we haven’t done anything wrong,” Hotz added.

The occupation of Avenue house comes as a result of the movement having to vacate the previous holding of Azania house. The students were led to believe that alternative accommodation would be provided for them. When an alternative house was not provided, the students of the movement then occupied Avenue house without the permission from the university.

“RMFM has received a lot of support from academics, workers and students,” Hotz explained.

However, the students are unclear of what the suspension from the UCT means in terms of their academic career as mid-year exams are upon them.

“We are a family and the attitude and the strength in the house is amazing, students continue to study and continue to be activists,” Hotz added.

Whether the university will forcefully remove the students occupying the house is unclear as the students have indicated that even though they might be suspended, they will not be removed. VOC News is still awaiting a response from UCT management. VOC (Umarah Hartley)


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