A heated debate has erupted on Twitter after Destiny magazine featured University of Witwatersrand SRC leader Nompendulo “Ulo” Mkatshwa in its December issue.
While some celebrated Mkatshwa others accused her of hogging the spotlight and that she was not the face of the #FeesMustFall campaign.
For two weeks in October, thousands of students from various tertiary institutions around South Africa protested against a proposed 10% fee increase.
The protests ended when government stepped in and decided there would be no fee increases.
The Daily Dispatch spoke to university of Fort Hare (UFH) students for their views on the matter:
Mandilakhe Mpantsi said: “It is very wrong to centralise one individual as the face of this movement because there was never a clear plan to say who will be the leader of #FeesMustFall.”
Jackson Mgema said: “I do not see anything wrong with the magazine choosing her as their cover star. She was at the forefront ... . So why should we start crying now?”
Sinethemba Kelenjani said: “Destiny is not saying she fought alone but rather celebrating the role she played ...
“She is proof that you do not always have to agree with an organisation that you are affiliated to.”
Charisma Ncube said: “She showed so much courage during the protests, she was very instrumental in getting #FeesMustFall to be taken seriously.
“The article is another stride towards woman empowerment.”
Nyameko Veveza said:
“It does not make sense to single out one person as the face of a collective struggle.”
Destiny tweeted in its defence: “The story also recognises that she’s a leader in a national student movement and that the story was about free education, misogyny and political change.”
Mixed response to student leader’s cover photo
While some celebrated Mkatshwa others accused her of hogging the spotlight and that she was not the face of the #FeesMustFall campaign.
For two weeks in October, thousands of students from various tertiary institutions around South Africa protested against a proposed 10% fee increase.
The protests ended when government stepped in and decided there would be no fee increases.
The Daily Dispatch spoke to university of Fort Hare (UFH) students for their views on the matter:
Mandilakhe Mpantsi said: “It is very wrong to centralise one individual as the face of this movement because there was never a clear plan to say who will be the leader of #FeesMustFall.”
Jackson Mgema said: “I do not see anything wrong with the magazine choosing her as their cover star. She was at the forefront ... . So why should we start crying now?”
Sinethemba Kelenjani said: “Destiny is not saying she fought alone but rather celebrating the role she played ...
“She is proof that you do not always have to agree with an organisation that you are affiliated to.”
Charisma Ncube said: “She showed so much courage during the protests, she was very instrumental in getting #FeesMustFall to be taken seriously.
“The article is another stride towards woman empowerment.”
Nyameko Veveza said:
“It does not make sense to single out one person as the face of a collective struggle.”
Destiny tweeted in its defence: “The story also recognises that she’s a leader in a national student movement and that the story was about free education, misogyny and political change.”
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