by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 24, 2015 | News
DE WET’S FINAL ATTEMPT: The last photograph taken outside the Matrix before EFF supporters tried to take a camera from a Wits Vuvuzela reporter.
Photo: Anlerie De Wet
CAMPUS control is continuing an investigation into an alleged racial attack on two white students by the supporters of the Wits Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
According to Lucky Khumela from Wits campus control, the assigned investigation officer is still collecting evidence including “surveillance footage from the scene”.
The two white Wits students were allegedly racially abused by supporters of Wits EFF on East campus earlier last week.
The two students told Wits Vuvuzela last week that they were watching an anti-xenophobia protest on the steps of the Great Hall organised by Wits EFF supporters.
“We were showing them support for the cause they were protesting for and then they showed us middle- fingers and shouted at us in an African language I don’t understand. One guy then picked-up a rock and threw it at us,” said one the students, who is studying second-year Microbiology.
“we not hate anyone, we have white membership”
The members of the Wits EFF then allegedly shouted “pink skins” and “you fucking whities”.
Vuyani Pambo, chairperson of Wits EFF, told Wits Vuvuzela in an interview that they do not “hate anyone”, including white students. “We have white membership,” he added.
Campus control is also investigating a report by a Wits Journalism student who was also attacked by the EFF.
Anlerie de Wet, Wits Vuvuzela reporter, was attacked on campus when she attempted to take photographs of EFF members after another anti- xenophobia march.
De Wet taking photographs of the march outside the Matrix when she was confronted by a several Wits EFF supporters.
Mbe Mbhele, secretary of Wits EFF, confirmed that a confrontation with De Wet took place but said “there was no physical attack on her”.
“The journalist just took a picture of us without asking for permission,” he said.
“When we asked her who she is, why she did not ask for permission, she said this is a public space and that is when the confrontation started.”
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 24, 2015 | News
Not all students at Wits can afford menstrual pads.
Wits Citizenship Community Outreach (WCCO), representative Thando Ntambo, has told Wits Vuvuzela that some students “use sponge during their menstrual periods” just to make sure they come to school.
WCCO run a food bank and they have identified that there is a need to begin a toiletry bank at Wits to help students who require the assistance.
According Ntambo, the demand for a toiletry bank has become “a big issue”.
“some students use sponge during their menstrual periods”
On Monday a fundraising Zumba class was initiated by two religious student organisations to contribute to the WCCO’s toiletry bank – The Association of Catholic Tertiary Students (ACTS) and South Africa Union of Jewish students (SAUJS)
According to Chonde Chipulu the chairperson of ACTS, the idea to create a toiletry bank is to “empower female students,” but they also needed a way to make donating fun which is why they thought of Zumba.
ZUMBA FOR CHARITY: Over 50 students attended what was a charity Zumba class, to help establish a toiletry bank. Photo: Anelisa Tuswa
“No student had to miss class because it’s that time of the month” said Chipulu.
Lebogang Molefe, an Honours student in International Relations described the initiative to create a toiletry bank as a way to restore another student’s “dignity”.
“But, it’s just great that you can do both fitness and a charitable cause at the same time,” said Molefe.
Jordin Borer, attended the Zumba class with his 75 year old grandmother and younger sister to support and show respect for women.
“No student had to miss class because it’s that time of the month”
“In conditions like these, it is important to show solidarity and support women where we can,” said Borer.
According to Borer, his grandmother has been a great role model for him, which is why he supports all “women and women organizations”.
The professional Zumba instructor Ayala Raichlin, volunteered to give Zumba lessons on Monday in order to make to help with the establishment of a toiletry bank.
“When you do a collection along with a fun event, there’s a lot of energy and emotions” she said “as opposed to just dropping something, somewhere there’s lot of emotions involved.”
About 55 students came to support the initiative. Many gave paid R15 to get into the Zumba class but also donated sanitary pads, toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant.
According to Ilana Demby, SAUJS’ National Women’s officer the event raised over R800 which is all going to WCCO to contribute to their newly established
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 24, 2015 | Featured 1, News
WE ARE ALL AFRICANS: Wits students, united outside the Wits Great Hall steps against xenophobia. The message was very clear, according to Vice Chancellor Adam Habib “everyone at Wits on Wednesday was an Africa.” Photo: Anelisa Tuswa
By Anelisa Tuswa and Sinikiwe Mqadi
“NOT IN OUR NAME! NOT IN OUR NAME!”
That was the message from more than a 1 000 Witsies on Wednesday, a huge show of support by Wits staff and students for an anti-xenophobia march that was called on short notice.
The Witsies marched from International House to the steps of the Great Hall, carrying flags from African countries and placards with the words “Nkosi sikelela iAfrika”, “Africa unite”, and “No one is illegal”
The students, some wearing green t-shirts reading “I AM Africa”, marched singing liberation songs “Siyaya noma kubi.” and “Azania”.
“From Cape to Cairo
Morocco to Madagascar
iAzania izwe lethu
Solithatha ngebhazuka”
The message was clear “No to xenophobia!”.
Afikile Qobo, 4th year Medicine, said South Africa have come so far as the country and should share with people who have helped the country in the past.
“I am here because I want action to the words that have been going on social media,” she said.
“Wits intellectuals have made a broad statement today that there is one Africa and it belongs to all of us”
SRC president Mcebo Dlamini said the massive turnout from students showed Witsies stood in solidarity with their fellow Africans.
“The bright minds have spoken, not in our name, Wits intellectuals have made a broad statement today that there is one Africa and it belongs to all of us,” Dlamini said.
For Mildred Airo, the chairperson of the East African Student Society, the message that Witsies needed to take home after the march was that “violence is not the answer”.
“Tell your brother and sister to stop violence,” said Airo.
At the rally at the Great Hall, Witsies listened to the story of Elvis Munatswa, a Wits student who was physically attacked recently inside the taxi on his way home from Wits by four men including the driver.
“I stand here well, attending a few session for physiotherapy just to get my leg on track,” he said. “But I am sceptical of using a taxi.”
Munutshawa said the march “reflected a positive side” of South Africa “I haven’t seen in recent weeks.”
Ayofunde Awosusi, the president of West African Student Society at Wits, agreed that the march showed South Africa’s good side.
“From the foreign student perspective it gives us hope,” he said. “Even though it doesn’t make us feel safe or better but it has the general vibe of what South Africa is about.”
But Awosusi believes a lot needs to be done, and one of them is “constructive measures to make sure that foreign students are safe on and off campus.”
Mark Heywood, director of Section 27, apologised on behalf of all South Africans for the brutality of the xenophobic violence and urged Witsies to continue fighting against the injustices.
“Today we do not stand the heart of South Africa and the African continent.”
Wits students were led by Vice Chancellor Prof Adam Habib and the SRC, who organised the march. Giving his speech, Habib chanted “Mayibuye iAfrika” and “Amandla awethu” (Power to the people).
“I want you to say it louder so that the whole South Africa can hear,” he shouted.
Habib described the past two weeks for South Africa as “shameful” but on Wednesday he expressed his pride because Wits stood together and said “not in our name”.
Habib thanked students for speaking against xenophobia, “Thank you for coming, you have lifted my heart and I think you lift the heart of everyone in the world.”
“Today we do not stand here in front of this Great Hall as Wits University but we stand here as the heart of South Africa and the African continent.”
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 23, 2015 | News
LARGE TURNOUT: Over 30 000 anti-xenophobia supporters marched down the streets of Hillbrow on their way to Newtown today to show their support for the anti-xenophobia march.
Photo: Reuven Blignault.
Today, thousands of people joined the “People’s march against xenophobia”, in Johannesburg and the Wits community, students and staff members were part of this march.
A number of Wits buses were provided to transport Wits students to the march. Taking them from main campus to Pieter Roos Park in Hillbrow. Buses were provided again at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, where the March ended to transport students back to Campus.
Vice chancellor Prof Adam Habib said the Wits community stands in “shame” and that is why it was very important for the community to join the march today.
“We putting up an alternative face to the world” he said “these killings did not happen in our name” added Habib.
Witsies unite beyond Wits
For the Wits students who attended the march, it was to send a message that “everyone is welcome” in South Africa
Lennon Makuwi, Wits honours student who attended the march told Wits Vuvuzela that the main reason he attended the march was to show the rest of the world and assure foreign nationals that “not all south Africans are Xenophobic or Afro-phobic.”
“We are united here” he said “no one is illegal, but the borders are” added Makuwi.
Lethabo Phasha, a 3rd year Chemical engineering student apologised to the foreign nationals for the behaviour of South Africans and said she hopes that “the perpetrators of violence regret their actions.”
“Let today be the end of xenophobia” said Phasha.
National students union identifies Youth challenges
Thabo Moloja, the national Deputy Chairperson of The South African Student’s Congress said that the youth of South Africa are faced with “many challenges including unemployment and inequality”.
“That’s what we should be fighting, not foreign nationals.” Added Moloja.
“But I am happy with the overall participation of the youth on this march” he said “there’s diversity, people from different political backgrounds, racial groups and even nationalities” added Moloja.
Messages from South Africans
Many dignitaries and celebrities also attended the march including, Lupi Ngcayisa former radio personality and Khaya Dlanga, mail and guarding’s columnist.
Dlanga told Wits Vuvuzela that “xenophobia does not benefit anyone” which is why it needs to stop.
“The people who perpetrated it, are the ones with the most to lose” he added.
For Ngcayisa’s the xenophobic attacks were “disgusting and disappointing.”
He said “it cannot be right after 21years of democracy that we should be visiting such hostility.”
“Nobody deserves to be treated in such in-humane manner, South Africa belongs to all who live in it” said Ngcayisa.
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 22, 2015 | Featured 1, News
WE ARE ALL AFRICANS: All Wits students, united outside the Wits Great Hall stairs to send a message against xenophobia. Photo: Sinikiwe Mqadi
Today, Wits students led by vice chancellor, Prof Adam Habib, and the Student Representative Council marched around campus, singing songs of liberation in solidarity with those affected by the recent xenophobic attacks.
Over a 1 000 Wits students walked from Wits International House to the Great Hall, some in green t-shirts that read “I AM Africa” and placards that with anti-xenophobic messages.
In welcoming the crowd general secretary of the SRC, Senzekahle Mbokazi, described the presence of the Wits students as “overwhelming”.
“Today, I lift up my head when I look at the Wits community”
Habib described the past two weeks for South Africa as “shameful” but today he stood proud to be part of the Wits community.
“Today, I lift up my head when I look at this community,” he said. “Because Wits has stood together and said not in our name”.
“It is fundamental that this university serves Africa,” said Habib.
Elvis Munatswa, a Wits student who was physically attacked recently inside the taxi on his way home from Wits by four men including the driver, also addressed the crowd while standing on crutches.
“I stand here well, attending a few session for physiotherapy just to get my leg on track,” he said. “But I am skeptical of using a taxi.”
Munatswa told the crowd his attack not occurred only because he is a Zimbabwean.
“If they didn’t like me for any other reasons other than my nationality, they would’ve kicked me out of the taxi,” said Munatswa. His attackers took his belongings, including a laptop and wallet, before throwing him out of his taxi. .
“The march has reflected a positive side of South Africa that he hasn’t seen in recent weeks”
Ayofunde Awosusi, the president of West African Student Society at Wits, said the march has reflected a positive side of South Africa that he hasn’t seen in recent week.
“From the foreign student perspective [the march] gives us hope,” he said. “Even though it doesn’t make us feel safe or better but it has the general vibe of what South Africa is about.”
But Awosusi believes a lot needs to be done, and one of them is “constructive measures to make sure that foreign students are safe on and off campus.”
For Midred Airo, the chairperson of the East African student society, the message that Witsies needed to take home after the march was that “violence is not the answer”.
“Tell your brother and sister to stop violence” said Airo.
Wits students are expected to join the Peoples’ March against xenophobia tomorrow, at 1pm. Over 30 000 people are expected to march from Pieter Roos Park in Hillbrow and end at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Habib said in an email to the Wits community that staff and students could be excused from university work to attend the march. Buses would also be provided from Wits campus to Pieter Roos Park for marchers. Four buses would depart at noon and another four at 12.30 PM from the Amic Deck.
Buses would also be provided for students returning from Newtown at 4pm and again at 4.30pm.
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 20, 2015 | News
On Thursday, April 23, 2015, over 30,000 people are expected to march in Johannesburg in a spirit of unity to show the world that there is another South Africa than the one portrayed by recent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals.
An emergency coalition has been formed calling for a “peoples’ march against xenophobia”, in Johannesburg this Thursday. The coalition includes organisations such as the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), African Diaspora Forum, Equal Education, SECTION27, Doctors without Borders, the University of Witwatersrand and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (NUMSA).
The march will start at 1pm at Pieter Roos Park in Hillbrow, and end at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.
Speaking at the media briefing earlier today in Braamfontein, the vice chancellor of Wits, Professor Adam Habib, has confirmed the participation of the Wits community.
“Wits will participate fully,” he said. “We are trying to arrange a possible day off or acceptable absenteeism for those who want to attend the march.”
“On Thursday we should all stand as one,” Habib said.
“South Africa is not represented by the barbaric actions”
Zwelinzima Vavi, the former general secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions, identified the xenophobic violence as a “displacement of the working class”.
“This is a reaction of social and political order that has failed humankind,” said Vavi.
Vavi believes that the peoples march against xenophobia will unite workers, both South African workers and foreign nationals.
“The march is going to be a march that will unite workers to say do not take advantage of our vulnerability,” said Vavi.
For the SAHRC the march is to show the world that there is another South Africa than the one portrayed by recent events of xenophobia.
Pregs Govender, deputy chairperson of SAHRC, told the media that “South Africa is not represented by the barbaric actions.”
“We are represented by human rights,” she said.
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 17, 2015 | Featured 1, News
A Wits Vuvuzela reporter was attacked on campus earlier today as she attempted to take photographs at a march against xenophobia.
Anlerie de Wet was taking photographs at an anti-xenophobia march organised by Wits EFF outside the Matrix building on the east campus of Wits University earlier today when she was confronted by a group of Wits EFF supporters.
The Journalism Honours students says a female supporter grabbed her around her wrist “trying to grab the camera out of my hand camera”, as other supporters rushed towards her. “A male student reached from behind, and smacked my head,” she added.
“They said I’m not allowed to take photos,” De Wet said.
When she questioned why not, she says she was told that she did not ask for permission to take pictures of the march and “because I am white”.
ALSO READ: “You fucking whities”
Mbe Mbhele, secretary of Wits EFF confirmed that a confrontation with De Wet took place but said “there was no physical attack on her”. He said, “the journalist just took a picture of us without asking for permission”.
“When we asked her who she is, why she did not ask for permission, she said this is a public space and that is when the confrontation started,” Mbhele said.
ON CAMERA: This is the last photograph Anlerie De Wet managed to take at the march outside the Matrix before EFF supporters tried take her camera from her. Photo: Anlerie De Wet.
Another Wits student, Ayanda Kunene, witnessed the Wits EFF supporters trying to take the camera from De Wet.
“She (Wits EFF supporter) grabbed the camera, wanting to take it away,” Kunene said.
Quintus Dirks, who also witnessed the incident, said, “I saw three EFF members, one grabbed the journalist’s camera … threatening to smack it”.
In a series of tweets this evening, the Wits EFF account tweeted: “We will not allow any media 2 (sic) take pictures of us without our permission … its against the law. No amount of reports you use will change that”.
“This is poor journalism and misrepresentation of the truth. You can do better really!”, another tweet read.
De Wet has reported the incident to Wits Campus Control.
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 17, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Wits hosted two solidarity marches this week. The march on Monday was dedicated to Kenya and Tuesday was for Nigeria. Even though the idea was to march in solidarity, the turn out differed for each event.
A solidarity March For Kenya
Wits staff and students, led by vice-chancellor Adam Habib, marched in silence across the campus on Monday in solidarity with those affected by the massacre of 147 Kenyan students at Garissa University College earlier this month.
About 700 people, mostly dressed in black and with candles in their hands, marched from the FNB Building on West Campus to the steps of the Great Hall around lunchtime. Violet Molefe, the chairperson of Amnesty International at Wits, one of the organisers of the event, said the purpose of the march was not only to express solidarity with Kenya but also to introduce a new struggle for African youth.
Solidarity March for Kenya, with V.C Adam Habib .
Photo by: Reuven Blignault
“As we march, we stand in solidarity with the students from Kenya,” she said. “All of the time you see students being angry, this is time to rise up as young leadership, not let the past generations to fix our problems,” Molefe said.
A solidarity March For Nigeria
In the same spirit of solidarity on Tuesday the School of Language, Literature and Media also marched. This was to remember the Chibok girls from Nigeria who were abducted in April 2014. Led by the head of the Media Studies department, Mehita Iqani, to the Great Hall, no more than 20 students attended. They had a moment of silence to remember and remind themselves that it has already been a year.
According to Dr Ufuoma Akpojivi, who organised the march, the main reason the turnout was low was because students think the Nigerian girls are forgotten. He also said the march was planned at the last minute.
“I met a student who said, please just forget about the bring back our girls,” he said. “I told her, let’s forget about whether the girls are coming back or not, let’s create awareness,” said Akpojivi.
Akpojivi told Wits Vuvuzela the objective of the march was to create awareness and this was achieved.
“I am happy with the small turnout, because we managed to create awareness amongst our students,” said Akpojivi.
For Amnesty International organisers, despite having less than a week to plan their Garissa solidarity march, the turnout was bigger. They had a week to organise the event.
“We didn’t expect that much support,” Molefe said.
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 17, 2015 | News
Atlegeng Pooe. Photo: Anelisa Tuswa
Atlegang Pooe is a 20 year old, who has been selected as one of the Semi-Finalists for Miss Commonwealth South Africa. When she isn’t attending her Media studies classes or discussing International Relations, she is busy doing charity related work for fun.
What is Miss Commonwealth?
Well, Miss Commonwealth-South Africa is part of Miss Commonwealth (international) which is a pageant that focuses on the charitable projects that its contestants from all the Commonwealth countries participate in it.
Why Miss Common wealth and not Miss South Africa?
Miss South Africa has been in my future plans, but I’ve decided to start with Miss Commonwealth-South Africa, because it offers elements that go beyond beauty, such as charity work. I’ve always been a huge fan of charity work.
What charity work are you involved in?
As part of my journey to Miss Commonwealth, I’ve worked with Pink Drive which is a cancer association. We go around different places where women aren’t able to get mammograms and provide the service and tests, this is to create awareness about cancer and say that this is real, it exists. But besides this, I’ve worked at done orphanages such as Thulani Bantwana and The Love of Christ Children’s Home (TLC).
Which part of charity are you most passionate about?
Well, I’m more interested in dealing with young women, as we’ve seen with the current state and events that are happening in Africa and the world in general, young girls are often targets of violence. And I believe in equipping and grooming women to be confident and self-sufficient, if Iyou can be able to equip a young woman with confidence you’ve already taken the first step towards equipping them to be better.
How important is it to bridge the gap between Beauty and Brain?
I don’t even think women should be separated between the two, every woman is beautiful and we all can offer different brains to different situations.
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 17, 2015 | Featured 1, News
A year after they were kidnapped, the 276 female students taken by Boko Haram are still missing despite a flurry of social media campaigns built on the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.
This week marks a year after the 276 female students were abducted from a secondary school in the town of Chibok in Nigeria.
According to Ayabonga Cawe, the co-founder of Rethink Africa, the reasons that the girls are not back yet reflects on the Nigerian state’s failure and inability to carry out its responsibility.
“It shows that what should be the responsibility of state, which has to be the protection of most vulnerable, has not been met,” said Cawe.
“It’s clear state failure to not even have an intelligence capability to track where the girls are or where Boko Haram is,” he said. “To not be able to neutralise and quickly stamp out a threat that has the potential to stop the country”.
STILL IN OUR THOUGHTS: Media studies marches have a moment of silence, remembering the Nigerian girls who were abducted by Boko Haram a year ago.
Singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka told Wits Vuvuzela that she doesn’t think South Africa and the rest of the continent has done a lot to help the kidnapped girls.
“It’s not like we don’t know who took the girls,” she said.
“We should take buses and go to Nigeria and scream until those girls get out.”
Cawe and Chaka Chaka were speaking on the sidelines of the Doing Human conference held at Wits this week.
Panashe Chigumadzi, a Wits Masters student, said: “If I’m really honest and most of South Africans are honest, we have done nothing”.
For Chigumadzi, women everywhere are not safe “with or without terrorism”.
On Tuesday, the Wits School of Literature, Language and Media studies organised a solidarity march for the Chibok girls.
According to the head of the Media Studies department, Mehita Iqani, the kidnapping became a media issue the moment the hashtag #bringbackourgirls made its way around the world.
“It has always been a media issue,” she said. “This was spread through media forms, and made global by media,” said Iqani.
The organiser of the march, Dr Ufuoma Akpojivi, said: “As a Nigerian who’s also researching on ‘the bring back our girls’ movement, I felt that it would be good for us to create an awareness and remind society that the girls are still missing.”
But Cawe believes that social media campaigns have a lot of unintended consequences including negative ones.
“It doesn’t necessary help the young girls, it creates a high value target of young girls,” he said. “It creates bargaining chips that people can use on the political power play.”
“It’s a huge problem on how the media frames,” Cawe said. “The media frames it in a way where it’s asking an institution from the West to come and rescue the girls but also rescue Africa.”
by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 13, 2015 | Featured 1, News
NATIONAL PRIDE: Kenyans and supporters of the Kenyan Solidarity March today walk proudly with the Kenya flag at Wits University earlier today. Photo by: Reuven Blignault
Wits University staff and students, led by vice-chancellor, Professor Adam Habib, marched in silence across the campus today in solidarity with those affected by the massacre of 147 Kenyan students at Garissa University College earlier this month.
Close to 700 people, most dressed in black and with candles in their hands, marched from the FNB Building on west campus to the steps of the Great Hall around lunchtime. Violet Molefe, the chairperson of Amnesty International-Wits, one of the organisers of the event, said the purpose of the march was not only to stand in solidarity with Kenya but also to introduce a new struggle for the youth of the African continent.
“As we march, we stand in solidarity with the students from Kenya,” she said. “All of the time you see students being angry, this is time to rise up as young leadership, not let the past generations to fix our problems,” Molefe added.
South African celebrity Gerry Elsdon told Wits Vuvuzela that the gathering reminded her of South Africa in the 1970s. “We lived in the life of fear in the 1970s and 80s for different reasons, but the fear was the same, this event took me back into my past.”
“This is not the future that we want for our children,” said Elsdon.
“Today we stand as Africans, we are all the students of Garissa”
Dr Jane Wathuta, a Kenyan post-doctoral fellow at Wits believes that students should look out for each other and the march was a positive sign that they are doing this.
Wathuta said, “We should not allow ourselves to be indifferent, we can’t think that this has nothing to do with me.”
Professor Habib, who addressed the crowd, said “today we stand as Africans, but we also stand also stand as part of the University community, and as part of common humanity”.
“White, Black, Muslim, Christian, Jew and any other religion, of all ethnic backgrounds today we are not Wits students, we not South Africans, we not Africans only, we are all the students of Garissa University,” he said.
Jane Wanguo, a Kenyan PhD student in African Literature, the massacre was painful beyond words and could only say “pole sana”, (I’m sorry), to the people of Kenya.
147 people, mostly students were brutally massacred on April 2 when Al-Shabaab militants invaded the Garissa University College campus, in in Kenya. El-Shabbab, a militant group, has claimed responsibility for the killings and Kenyan authorities claim to have captured and killed all the attackers.
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by أنيليسا توسوا | Apr 11, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Residents of Esselen Residence occupied Residence Life Offices in Park Town, with a memorandum of grievance, on Friday.
According to the House committee members, Head of Residence life Rob Sharman made various promises and one of them include a resolution about the building next to Esselen and the closing of Esselen Street, after a shooting that occurred last year in Esselen.
ARC President Mxolisi Sopiseka handing over the Memorandum to the head of Residence Life Rob Sharman.
“Last year there was a shooting, even Habib and Pamela Dube came to Esselen to listen to us, but nothing has been done since then” said Thero Montwedi, Vice-Chairperson of the house committee.
Precious Maseto told Wits Vuvuzela that “the problem is not Hillbrow, but the building next to Esselen” she said “that building is dirty, their sewage system passes through Esselen”.
“I don’t know if it’s because we are staying in Hillbrow that we are subjected to such conditions, we are also Wits Res Students”
Florence building making life for Esseleners, a living hell
According to the students, Florence building (the building next to Esselen residence) has made their living conditions a living hell and their study environment very unfavourable.
“The environment is not conducive for learning, in the study room there’s sewage dropping from the building from next-door” said Montwedi “I don’t know if it’s because we are staying in Hillbrow that we are subjected to such conditions, we are also Wits Res Students” he said.
Luyanda Mgidlana said “the main problem is the building at the back, the sewage and the crime comes with it”.
When the memorandum was being read out to Sharman, house members started shouting, showing their dissatisfaction with the fact that it did not include the inconveniencies caused by the new bus schedule.
Dissatisfaction with bus service
“I Esselen ayinama Directi!” shouted one person from the crowd, saying Esselen has no direct bus.
Majority of the students are Education students and the new bus system has caused a lot of inconveniences.
“The bus picks up people from Education campus, drop them at Esselen then goes to Amic Deck, after it picked up people at Esselen, rather than going back to Education Campus again” said Lerato, Esselens safety and security officer.
Head of Residence life, Sharman has refused to issue a public statement.
He said “it would be ethically unwise to make a public statement, until we have responded in writing to the students on their memorandum”
The Chairperson of All Resident Council (ARC) and Esselen, Mxolisi Sopiseka told Wits Vuvuzela that the purpose of the march was to make students aware of Esselen and its problems, as it is not an Esselen Problem but a residence issue.
“Students get affected, whether they stay at Esselen or not” he said “you find people who get excluded at Junction and Noswal moving to Esselen”.
“Even those who stayed at Esselen for four years, if you ask them if they applied to Esselen one thing you would find that is common is that they never applied” he said “we all went to Esselen because of circumstances”.
SRC President Mcebo Dlamini, addressed the residence of Esselen and said “we are told it is a privilege to be at University, thus we must obey?” he said “enough is enough, this is not a protest but a rock up”.
