Don’t tell the whites

The Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC) has condemned a voice note which cautions strikers to exclude white students because they “cannot be trusted”.

The voice note quickly went viral on social media. The protest action is over an increase in fees and the minimum initial payment (MIP), a 50% lump sum of their total tuition which for a full time students amounts to over R40 000.

“They don’t want any whites knowing because we can’t trust them. So just black and non-white students…” the person in the recording says.

The note describes how all entry points are to be closed off to disallow any academic activity until there is a resolution on the fee increase.

The academic programme at the university was suspended on Monday after talks between protesters and Vice Chancellor Sizwe Mabizela broke down.

SRC secretary general Lindokhule Zungu said that he had been privy to the electronic recording early in the day.

“It was brought to my attention this morning and the elements of racism are definitely not condoned by the SRC. We believe in this process and we believe that the issues of finance affect those of all races,” he said.

“We have engaged with the [vice chancellor] and he threw around some numbers. We are going to meet with him again before they day is out but for now the status quo remains the same,” Zungu said.

Jeff Wicks, News24

UPDATE: Three stun grenades were used against protesters outside the Eastcape Midlands College. Read more here: http://t.co/WU3FGoN7vo

— Oppidan Press (@oppidanpress) October 19, 2015

Classes cancelled at Rhodes University due to student protest against tuition fee hike.

Photo by @chey_s22 pic.twitter.com/2oKLsK8afD

— Fresco News (@fresconews) October 19, 2015

ANCYL welcomes battle against 'ridiculous' Rhodes University feeshttp://t.co/f3djCOtgoQ pic.twitter.com/d0xvMlnmSG

— POWER987News (@POWER987News) October 19, 2015

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