Rhodes SRC angry at no name change

Rhodes University’s SRC has rejected the university’s decision not to change its name and urged students to keep the name change on the agenda.

The university’s council announced this week that following two years of wide consultation and highly charged debate, it had decided to retain the name.

But, said the SRC in a statement, the name had a deep-rooted association with violence and mass oppression which was contrary to the constitution and vision for a post-apartheid South Africa.

The SRC is represented on the council by its president Rolihlahla Mabaso and vice-president Dingaan Booi.

The decision to retain the name was made by a secret ballot in which nine of 24 voted against retaining the name and 15 in favour.

“It is of great concern that despite all the calls and lobbying for the university’s name to change, the majority of the university council has voted to keep the name,” said the SRC.

It said the council had used the “rhetoric of consequences and costs” to argue against name change.

Although the council outlined dozens of considerations in a six-page long statement, it said one of the main reasons was the university’s precarious financial position.

But the SRC said it could not accept that the university would place finances above moral considerations.

“As with any change, especially in the era of transformation, there are bound to be reservations and concerns, but these should never outweigh the significance of moving away from our oppressive past and unreservedly condemning it.”