Societies against ‘Wits 11’ suspension
JOBURG – Wits student societies have spoken out against the suspension of 11 students.
Two student societies of Wits have spoken out against vice-chancellor and principal Adam Habib’s announcement of the charges against 11 students who disrupted a piano recital.
The students were sentenced for having protested against an Israeli sponsored music concert early last year.
The South African Student Congress (SASCO) and the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) both expressed their disdain for the manner in which the sentence was conducted.
“Wits PSC, in principle condemns the witch-hunt conducted by Wits University’s Management and the Israeli lobby against the Wits 11. Wits PSC also condemns Wits University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Habib who first went to the media with this verdict instead of first informing the 11 charged students, this is highly improper and we expected more of the Vice Chancellor,” the PSC said in a statement.
“We are appalled to hear from the charged students that they were not even informed by Wits University of their sentences yet Professor Adam Habib saw it fit to go to the media and divulge this information. We remind Professor Habib that he is accountable to the students not the media, even though he may enjoy the media spotlight,” SASCO protested.
In its statement, SASCO maintains that contrary to the university’s belief, the hosting of the Israeli concert is what brought the university into disrepute.
“The Wits 11 students were upholding the good name of Wits University by protesting against the Israeli concert,” SASCO maintained.
The students are said to have been fighting for justice and the liberation of the people of Palestine.
“The Wits University PSC maintains that the university is unfairly punishing students for their protest. The punishment of students is a result of undue influence and threats made by the Israeli lobby and which the Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Habib has himself admitted to,” the PSC revealed.
Both parties believe that the organisers of the concert should not have gone against the Student Representative council’s decision to boycott all Israeli academic and cultural events.
Details: www.sasco.org.za, witspsc@gmail.com
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