Rhodes University is investigating a student for racist remarks after a screen grab of a WhatsApp conversation using the “K” word was posted on the Student Representative Council’s (SRC’s) Facebook page.
University spokeswoman Cath- erine Deiner yesterday confirmed a probe had been launched into an alleged breach of the student disciplinary code.
A notice to attend a suspension hearing had been served by correspondence on the student, who was expected to appear to explain why a suspension should not be handed down.
According to Deiner, the investigation involved one student.
“A post of an old WhatsApp conversation screen grab of a racist comment was placed on the Facebook page,” she said.
Although the post had since been removed and students were on holiday, Deiner said the investigation would continue when they returned next week.
SRC president Zikisa Maqubela yesterday urged officials to take “strong action against such unbecoming conduct”.
“The SRC takes a very strong position against racism, hence it was us who reported this issue.”
He said the SRC was pleased that vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela had condemned the incident in an e-mail that was circulated campus-wide last week.
According to the circular from Dr Mabizela last week, university prosecutors launched an investigation into the post soon after it appeared on the Facebook page.
“In a recent Facebook exchange between two students, one referred to another in the derogatory, demeaning and hurtful term ‘k****r’,” the circular said.
“The use of this word constitutes hate speech and an assault on the dignity and humanity of another person… takes a very dim view of racist comments being shared on social media.”
The offending student would be prosecuted to the full extent of the university disciplinary code. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Rhodes investigates student over K-word
University spokeswoman Cath- erine Deiner yesterday confirmed a probe had been launched into an alleged breach of the student disciplinary code.
A notice to attend a suspension hearing had been served by correspondence on the student, who was expected to appear to explain why a suspension should not be handed down.
According to Deiner, the investigation involved one student.
“A post of an old WhatsApp conversation screen grab of a racist comment was placed on the Facebook page,” she said.
Although the post had since been removed and students were on holiday, Deiner said the investigation would continue when they returned next week.
SRC president Zikisa Maqubela yesterday urged officials to take “strong action against such unbecoming conduct”.
“The SRC takes a very strong position against racism, hence it was us who reported this issue.”
He said the SRC was pleased that vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela had condemned the incident in an e-mail that was circulated campus-wide last week.
According to the circular from Dr Mabizela last week, university prosecutors launched an investigation into the post soon after it appeared on the Facebook page.
“In a recent Facebook exchange between two students, one referred to another in the derogatory, demeaning and hurtful term ‘k****r’,” the circular said.
“The use of this word constitutes hate speech and an assault on the dignity and humanity of another person… takes a very dim view of racist comments being shared on social media.”
The offending student would be prosecuted to the full extent of the university disciplinary code. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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