Premier Modise expresses shock at Nazi salutes
North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock at the alleged expression of Nazi salutes on the campus of North West University-Potchefstroom Campus.
According to news reports, some white students, during an initiation ceremony, allegedly performed among others the Nazi salute, and related acts of Nazism. Premier Modise, upon learning of this Nazi solidarity by young students who are apparently in their first year of study, said that she cannot believe that this kind of sentiments are still being harboured in a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and free South Africa.
“It is disturbing, because this incident demonstrates that segments of our young, white people are still vulnerable to ethnic and racial indoctrination. As South Africans, we have come a long way, indeed almost 20 years to the day to bury the sceptre of racism and ethnicity in all its manifestations. We believe that this is not an isolated incident, since initiation rituals on some historically white campuses remain clandestine and makes it therefore all the more perilous,” said the Premier.
Modise added that institutions of higher learning should be repositories of learning, knowledge creation and expansive thinking.
“As a nation, we can ill-afford to be exposed to any sentiment which undermines the prescripts of our constitution. We are equally encouraged by the swift condemnation of the incident by the management of the university which has taken the public in their confidence in relation to the matter. As the provincial government, we will continue to monitor events at the campus and await the outcome of the investigation,” she concluded.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele (Spokesperson)
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
