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UCT says private security necessary because of threats by RhodesMustFall

The executive of University of Cape Town (UCT) says it would prefer not to have private security on campus but that the consistent threat on the daily functioning of the university by some members of RhodesMustFall (RMF) with whom it has now broken off talks necessitates it.

It said students identifying as RMF had disrupted the functioning of the university on several occasions and last week brought core activities for student accommodation to a standstill.

 Similar disruptions had occurred in 2015 with attempts to stop the November exams and to occupy key operation centres of the university.

“2016 started with threats to disrupt the registration process by the broader FeesMustFall Movement‚ and some members of RMF have engaged in protest action that has involved intimidating staff‚ invading meetings and ransacking residence kitchens. We are proceeding with charges where we have identified individuals‚” the university’s executive said.

“The executive does not necessarily want private security operations on campus. We wish to return to an environment where these services are not needed.

 “We are currently spending some R2 million a month to retain these services‚ which we would rather spend on other essential priorities‚” the executive added.

The university acknowledged that RMF as a movement could and should play a constructive role. During the recent accommodation challenges‚ it said‚ the SRC and RMF had raised issues that needed to be addressed.

 “This is helpful. Unfortunately the consequent behaviour by some RMF members to bring operations to a standstill compounded the problems rather than assisted in resolving the issues. It paralysed the very services that need to resolve the issues and also traumatised staff‚” the executive stated.

“Such methods by some members of RMF are regrettable: intimidation‚ violence‚ destruction‚ intolerance and on occasions‚ criminality. It is precisely this behaviour that leads to the cost of R2 million per month for private security.

“Given this regrettable behaviour by some members of RMF‚ the executive has suspended talks with RMF. We have requested RMF to give an undertaking that it will respect the boundaries of legitimate protest‚ that its members will stop intimidating staff and that the movement will engage with the executive in good faith‚” UCT added

It said this would open the way for discussions to resume and could form the basis for a decision to remove the increased presence of private security from the university.

 “Without such an undertaking and sufficient demonstration by RMF of honouring such an undertaking‚ the executive cannot and will not remove the private security from campus.”

Earlier on Thursday‚ the university condemned as hate speech a t-shirt worn by an individual bearing the message “kill all whites“.

“The individual involved is not currently a UCT student (although he has been involved in Rhodes Must Fall activities on campus). He is not subject to internal UCT disciplinary action. However‚ other legal channels are being pursued urgently and charges are being brought against the person‚ including reporting the matter to the SA Police Service and the Human Rights Commission‚” the university stated.

It said the t-shirt breached all limits of free speech and was hateful and vindictive.

“We view this behaviour as direct incitement to violence. UCT condemns in the strongest terms possible any act or expression that incites violence or promotes hate speech or intimidation in any form.”

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