The Wits SRC has taken full responsibility for disrupting a musical recital by Israeli born pianist Yossi Reshef on March 12 during Israel Apartheid Week.
“The Student Representative Council takes full responsibility for the process; we take full responsibility for disrupting the concert,” said SRC Internal Vice President Tokelo Nhlapo. Members of the SRC, Muslim Students Association, Wits Palestinian Solidarity and the Progressive Youth Alliance protested against the musical recital by Reshef in the closed venue at the SW Engineering building.
The protestors stormed the stage; singing, dancing and chanting their support for Palestine. The concert was stopped and Reshef was ushered out of the venue by Campus Control. “These people must know that they won’t sing comfortably while Palestinians die,” said Nhlapo.
Reshef was born in Israel but presently resides in Berlin, Germany. Nhlapo promised more action against any artist visiting the university from Israel. “We are not gonna welcome any artist from Israel until the state of Israel has human rights like everyone else. “The boycott is not against individuals…We have nothing against the pianist,” said Nhlapo.
There has been ongoing investigation by the university to find those who are responsible for the disruption of the concert.“The university views the disruption of the concert in a very serious manner and is addressing this violation of its Code of Conduct through a thorough, formal investigation within the confines of its regulatory framework,” said Vice Chancellor Prof Loyiso Nongxa in a statement
Nongxa said the rights of Reshef had been violated and the disruption went against the core values of the University.
