Stellenbosch University’s (SU) recent decision to cancel a night vigil aimed at showing solidarity with Palestine, should be interrogated.
This was according to Kaeden Bönker, a final-year education student at SU and the organiser of the night vigil. Students involved in the organisation felt that there were discrepancies within the official reasons provided for the cancellation, claimed Bönker.
A group of SU students organised the vigil in support of Palestine, said Bönker. The vigil was meant to take place on the Rooiplein at SU, on the evening of 27 October, but SU officials called off the vigil on 26 October, Bönker said.
“It isn’t in control when a genocide happens,” said Madhia Shabih, a third-year computer science student at Stellenbosch University (SU). Shabih is a member of SU’s Palestine Solidarity Forum. She attended the mass protest (pictured above), which was held in Sea Point on 28 October after SU officials called off a vigil in support of Palestine. The vigil was intended to be held on the rooiplein on 27 October. PHOTOS: Talia Kincaid
Contrasting opinions
“As an individual who had poured heart and soul into organising a peaceful vigil […] the sudden cancellation by SU cut deep,” said Hakeemah Matinka, a third-year education student at SU.
The vigil was intended to provide a space for people to unite against those who are suffering in Gaza as a result of the Israel-Palestine conflict, said Matinka.
In communication with Bönker – that SMF News had seen – events and safety risk manager for SU’s facilities management, Brandon Como*, told Bönker that the university disapproved of the event because it would disrupt students’ examination preparations.
“The university told us that they have a two-week policy where we can’t hold events before exams,” claimed Madhia Shabih, a third-year computer science student at SU, and member of the Stellenbosch Palestine Solidarity Form (SU PSF).
The SU PSF is a student-run society that “advocates for the liberation of Palestine and raises awareness of the humanitarian crisis there”, Bönker explained.
However, the Market on the Plein event on the Rooiplein continued during the week of the planned vigil, said Bönker. Similarly, the final of the Rugby World Cup was screened at the Neelsie Student Centre during the week of the planned vigil, Bönker added.
However, according to Martin Viljoen, the spokesperson for SU, the cancellation was based on the fact that the application for the vigil was submitted late.
“Guidelines and protocols specify a seven-day application period […] a specification that was unfortunately not adhered to in this instance,” according to Martin Viljoen, spokesperson for SU.
South Africans took to the Sea Point promenade in support of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign on 28 October, SMF News observed. Members of Stellenbosch University’s Palestine Solidarity Forum took part in the protest that commemorated the thousands of Palestinians who have faced death as a result of the conflict. VIDEO: Talia Kincaid
Fighting for recognition
But according to Neil Marais, a member of the SU PSF, the organisation also planned and organised an anti-racism rally on 20 May 2022.
That rally took three days to organise and carry out with Como’s approval, said Shabih.
“When a genocide happens, we have to take action whether it’s exams or no exams,” said Shabih.
Freedom of association
Those who are deeply passionate about the matter found that the cancellation had “called into question the university’s commitment to fostering an environment where diverse voices can be heard and understood”, claimed Matinka.
But Viljoen said that the university “respects and upholds the principles of safety and freedom of association as enshrined in our national Constitution”.
“We support our student communities in expressing their views and engaging in constructive discussions within the boundaries of university policies and the law,” said Viljoen.
SU PSF’s members chose to attend a mass-protest for Palestine that took place in Sea Point on 28 October, but will relocate their planned vigil to Stellenbosch’s town hall at a later date, said Bönker.
Meanwhile, SU’s rector and Vice Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, released a statement recognising the “humanitarian crisis” that is the “Isreali-Palestinian situation” on 3 November.
Bönker felt that the wording in De Villiers’ statement was not strong enough, and he criticised the decision not to use the word “genocide” in the statement.
“They just referred to it as a ‘situation’ or ‘issue’ and we as students are wondering why the university is not forthright about their condemnation of Israel,” said Bönker.
*Como did not respond to SMF News’ request for comment by the time for publication.