| Tuesday everyone didn't go to class, and there was a big rally at about 10 am. Everyone was marching around the campus, singing protest songs like were sung during the fight against apartheid and marching to the main gate and the administration building. They were protesting that the administration still refused to negotiate with the Student Representative Counsel about the fee policy. There were arrests Tuesday night of people demonstrating, then Wednesday more demonstrations in high gear. Everyone was wondering around the campus, mainly hanging around the front gate, burning tires, etc. |
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I was approached by one of the members of the Student Representative Counsel about joining their organization as a officer in the international affairs department and being a part of SASCO, the South African Students Congress Organization. It's an ANC and communist allied organization of student representatives. My role would be more among the leadership "cabinet" sort of thing, just the SRC leadership body which meets and decides their policy and strategy, negotiates with the University administration and addresses student concerns. |
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I am interested in being a part in order to observe the discussion and function of the leadership. I am rather humble about what I think I will be able to contribute as a newcomer, although I do have my opinions and they are interested in hearing my input. I mostly just want to observe how it all functions, the cabinet meetings, the negotiations, the mass action, etc. I figure that was the same place and way Mandela cut his teeth in working with social and political leadership, so its a chance I can't let myself pass up. I talked with my friend Vukile, and told him I was interested in getting involved in the situation and learning what I could, also in contributing my thoughts to the situation so we'll see what happens from here. |
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Thursday there was still no one going to class, and in the afternoon, the media came to the campus to report on what was happening. I had been hanging fairly tightly with the SRC guys, keeping up on what was happening and being briefed on the whole situation. I felt like I had a lot of catching up to do, since I had missed out on some of the mass meetings. SABC, the national television and radio station was talking to the SRC president and getting his opinion and perspective on the runnings. I was standing there with two other exchange students and the interviewer then turned around and asked if any of us would be willing to speak. I told him I would be interested in talking with him, so he interviewed me about the situation. The interview was broadcast all over South Africa and wherever else SABC broadcasts to (places like Zimbabwe, etc.) which was quite an interesting thing for me. I have worked in radio broadcasting since I was about 15, but I was mostly reading news, sports, etc and playing music, not the one being asked the questions. Later I also had my picture taken for the East London Dispatch, an Eastern Cape paper that is from about two hours away. Quite an interesting day. The whole situation was covered in the papers, and still is getting coverage. |
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That Thursday afternoon about 2:30 p.m. the Registrar
released fliers saying the University had been shut down. Everyone was
ordered off campus by 4 p.m. (about an hour later). Students rallied
until late Thursday night in front of the main gate. Everyone was supposed
to be leaving but instead they all came to the main gate. Those that
did head for home were kind of mocked and harassed (not in a sinister
way, more like they were weak or childlike).
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