Kamvelihle Goba during his on-stage protest at a recent UJ graduation ceremony | Image: Twitter
A student, who has since been identified as Kamvelihle Goba, has made waves on social media after a video of him staging an anti-racism protest on stage during a graduation ceremony at the University of Johannesburg has gone viral.
In the video Goba can be seen on stage, dressed in Xhosa traditional attire under his graduation gown screaming: “Today, students are suspended because of this man. I am not a post-grad student registered here because this man went and told management that I am a racist” as he gestured to the UJ staff member on stage.
He even refused to be conferred his bachelor of arts degree in humanities. He is later seen being escorted off stage by a group of security personnel.
According to Times Live, Goba said he had been suspended by the institution after he confronted an allegedly racist lecturer.
“All I did was ask Prof … why he was racist, and why he continues to be at the centre of unhappiness,” Goba told the publication.
Speaking on behalf of the institution, UJ spokesperson Herman Esterhuizen said the university viewed Goba’s gesture as unfortunate and opportunistic.
“It is unfortunate that one of the graduates opted to use the platform (a graduation ceremony) to express his sentiment,” said Esterhuizen, before adding, “instead of using the graduation as a celebration, the student resorted to grandstanding and playing to the gallery. The university condemns this type of behaviour in the strongest terms possible.”
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