Students continue peaceful occupation of Bremner

A small group of students remained in the Bremner Building on Monday morning, continuing Friday afternoon's peaceful protest and subsequent occupation of the Archie Mafeje Room in the building.

On Friday some 300 students, staff and contract staff gathered to protest in front of Bremner, to demand the Rhodes statue be removed and that a date be given for its removal.

"We are impressed with the commitment of the members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and their determination to make a difference," said executive director of the Communication and Marketing Department, Gerda Kruger.

"Our doors remain open and we have urged the SRC to come to the table. They are a most important voice in the next week as the rest of UCT, and all members of the extended UCT community over the years, consider and express their opinions about what should happen to the Rhodes statue."

Kruger said more than 700 people had shared their views on the statue and on the broader issue of transformation. (You can add to this by emailing your views to haveyoursay@uct.ac.za)

The UCT community has been invited to an assembly in Jameson Hall on Wednesday 25 March, to discuss their thoughts and views on the Rhodes statue.

"It is through these discussions that our collective wisdom on the matter is shaped," Kruger added. "These debates will inform our thinking and will further shape our emerging proposal to Council.

"We believe the open discussions and sharing of very opposing and divisive views in a peaceful, albeit sometimes loud and uncomfortable space, is what is unique about UCT and this is what is necessary in making sustainable, meaningful changes."

Photo by Michael Hammond