This year marks 10 years since Chumani Maxwele threw excrement at the Cecil John Rhodes statue at UCT’s campus.
Image: David Ritchie/Independent Newspapers (Archives)
TEN years after UCT student Chumani Maxwele flung faeces on the statue of Cecil John Rhodes at UCT, in a moment that brought the #RhodesMustFall movement into the spotlight and became a catalyst for the #FeesMustFall movement, students today still face financial exclusion, a lack of accommodation, and ongoing struggles with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
When Maxwele made the public statement, students were protesting against a lack of transformation in the higher learning institutions, and the preservation of symbols tied to subjugation of black people.
A bare-chested Maxwele donned a pink hard hat, tracksuit pants, a whistle and a sign around his torso stating, “Exhibit White Arrogance @ UCT”.
At the time, Maxwele said: “As black students we are disgusted by the fact that this statue still stands here today as it is a symbol of white supremacy. How can we be living in a time of transformation when this statue still stands and our hall is named after (Leander Starr) Jameson, who was a brutal lieutenant under Rhodes.”
“This poo that we are throwing on the statue represents the shame of black people. By throwing it on the statue we are throwing our shame to whites’ affluence.
“As black students here we have to change our ways just to fit in, and we have to keep quiet for almost three years before we can speak in the classrooms. It is time for all of that to change.”
The moment and subsequent student protests led to a number of changes at the university including the removal of the statue, an annual transformation report being released and a change from the Jameson Memorial Hall to the Sarah Baartman Hall. The moment also fed into the #FeesMustFall movement, which sparked country-wide protests from students demanding free education.
It led to the university taking action against Maxwele to expel him, and institute disciplinary action against him. It was a long drawn out process with Maxwele being expelled before ultimately challenging the ruling in court.
After having his expulsion set aside, he went on to complete his studies at the university, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Politics, Gender and African Studies. He also completed his Honours degree.
In a statement, the former student activist, now 39 years old, said: “The #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movement was a rejoinder to a long history of African people’s resistance against the brutal history of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa.
“#RhodesMustFall was a historical and political reminder to the post-apartheid government of the ANC that it must never forget the historical resistance of the African people as to what were they about as articulated by the likes of Tiyo Soga, Elijah Makiwane, Pambani Mzimba, John Tengo Jabavu, Ntombikayise Maxwele, Isaac Wauchope, Solomon T. Plaatje, John Knox Bokwe, Walter B. Rubusana, Afred Mangena, Paul Xiniwe, Vakele Maxwele, Oliver R. Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Winnie Mandela and Nelson Mandela,” Maxwele said.
“#RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall was a political relay and continuation of our long and painful history of African people fighting against colonialism and apartheid.”
Earlier this year students protested against fee blocks, academic exclusion and accommodation at UCT, Stellenbosch University, and CPUT.
At UCT, council chair Norman Arendse announced that a joint proposal submitted to the council by the Student Representative Council and the executive was accepted to address the fee block issue.
Takalani Makhwathana, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) Youth Command UCT branch said while there remains an immense gratitude to the #FeesMustFall leaders and activists of 2015, there is still more that needs to be done.
“We remain deeply grateful to the generation of #FeesMustFall activists, as their movement marked a turning point in South African politics. It was a moment when youth political engagement intensified, and we saw more young leaders emerging and taking up space, including in Parliament.
“In terms of current sentiment among students, the feeling is… frustration with the government. Many of the promises made after 2015-2016 have not materialised, and students today still face financial exclusion, a lack of accommodation, and ongoing struggles with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).”
Makhwathana said the main difference between then and now is that while student activism continues, evidenced by the recent protests across campuses, there is a lack of national coordination.
“Unlike #FeesMustFall, which saw a united front across institutions, today's protests are largely isolated to individual universities. A movement with a unified national strategy, whether for the removal of the NSFAS accommodation cap, the scrapping of student debt, or even another wave of the #FeesMustFall movement would be far more effective.
“Ultimately, the fight for free, quality, and decolonized higher education is far from over, and today’s students understand that they must continue the struggle.”
It was 10 years ago when Chumani Maxwele threw faeces on the statue of Cecil John Rhodes on the University of Cape Town’s upper campus, which gave birth to the #RhodesMustFall movement, and in turn became a catalyst for heightening the #FeesMustFall movement.
Image: File picture: Independent Newspapers
Cape Times