The Pan Africanist Congress in the province wants the University of Fort Hare (UFH) to be renamed Robert Sobukwe University.
The call by the PAC stems from the historical connotations associated with the name of the higher education institution.
Fort Hare was a military outpost during the frontier wars and was named after Colonel John Hare, a lieutenant-governor (administrator) of the Eastern Province.
The university was established on the site of the fort, and that was why it was given the name.
The PAC says Hare oppressed and killed black people for decades.
PAC provincial secretary Jerome Mdyolo said the name should reflect the correct history of black people.
“If you remember, the name derives from the fort of Hare. Hare used to hide in the fort during the frontier wars. He killed many of our people so how can we honour him by naming an institution after him?” asked Mdyolo.
However, UFH student representative council secretary-general Andile Gama rejected the call by the PAC.
“We feel that this is an opportunistic call. They have failed to uphold the name of Sobukwe, so now they are attaching it to Fort Hare. I do not think we are ready for such discussion,” Gama said.
Mdyolo insisted the name Fort Hare belongs in archival records and not as the name of a prestigious institution.
“People should just know that there was once this general in our oppressive history but not to name that historic university after someone like him,” Mdyolo said.
He said there were many better leaders who should be honoured, and the name should change to reflect democratic processes.
“There are many African leaders who come out of the university, like Robert Mugabe, Nelson Mandela (and) even Sobukwe himself, who was SRC president in that university, so why must we still keep (Hare’s) name?” he asked.
Gama said the PAC should not try to hijack the university’s successes by attaching the name of Sobukwe to it.
“In as much as we appreciate that Robert Sobukwe was a student at the University of Fort Hare and former SRC president, the PAC must not use such discussions to try to make themselves relevant and hijack the glory that Fort Hare has.
“There are many other forts in the Eastern Cape. Why don't they talk about Fort Cox or any other forts?” asked Gama.
Contacted for comment, Eastern Cape Geographic Names Committee chairman Samkelo Janda said it was not within their jurisdiction to monitor renaming processes of institutions. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
PAC wants UFH renamed after Sobukwe
The call by the PAC stems from the historical connotations associated with the name of the higher education institution.
Fort Hare was a military outpost during the frontier wars and was named after Colonel John Hare, a lieutenant-governor (administrator) of the Eastern Province.
The university was established on the site of the fort, and that was why it was given the name.
The PAC says Hare oppressed and killed black people for decades.
PAC provincial secretary Jerome Mdyolo said the name should reflect the correct history of black people.
“If you remember, the name derives from the fort of Hare. Hare used to hide in the fort during the frontier wars. He killed many of our people so how can we honour him by naming an institution after him?” asked Mdyolo.
However, UFH student representative council secretary-general Andile Gama rejected the call by the PAC.
“We feel that this is an opportunistic call. They have failed to uphold the name of Sobukwe, so now they are attaching it to Fort Hare. I do not think we are ready for such discussion,” Gama said.
Mdyolo insisted the name Fort Hare belongs in archival records and not as the name of a prestigious institution.
“People should just know that there was once this general in our oppressive history but not to name that historic university after someone like him,” Mdyolo said.
He said there were many better leaders who should be honoured, and the name should change to reflect democratic processes.
“There are many African leaders who come out of the university, like Robert Mugabe, Nelson Mandela (and) even Sobukwe himself, who was SRC president in that university, so why must we still keep (Hare’s) name?” he asked.
Gama said the PAC should not try to hijack the university’s successes by attaching the name of Sobukwe to it.
“In as much as we appreciate that Robert Sobukwe was a student at the University of Fort Hare and former SRC president, the PAC must not use such discussions to try to make themselves relevant and hijack the glory that Fort Hare has.
“There are many other forts in the Eastern Cape. Why don't they talk about Fort Cox or any other forts?” asked Gama.
Contacted for comment, Eastern Cape Geographic Names Committee chairman Samkelo Janda said it was not within their jurisdiction to monitor renaming processes of institutions. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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