‘F*#ck white people’ graffiti removed

Images of offensive graffiti have surfaced on the walls of the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) which has been criticised by the public.

The indignant marks of hate speech read, “F*#k white people” and are found all over the campus and on T-shirts. Wits Senior Executive Team released a statement saying, “We strongly condemn the offensive messages being propagated and we deeply regret the insult that it may cause to members of our community.” It added that on legal advice the statements are not deemed a violation of the Constitution as it does not incite harm but that that the Wits Senior Executive team do not condone the actions of the students, “whose behaviour runs contrary to the values of tolerance and respect [expected from the Wits community]”.

Members of the community have spoken out on social media:

How is this not racism, how is this legal?! This is an attack on our constitution @ewnreporter @WitsUniversity #wits pic.twitter.com/vZLVJHQxmd

— Kryptesa (Official) (@kryptesa) February 8, 2016

People can wear their hateful t-shirts but when they vandalize public property we have a problem #FuckWhitePeople. pic.twitter.com/o3R2ZvpL3a

— Winnie Wakanda Washington 🇿🇦 (@WinnieWakandaW) February 8, 2016

https://twitter.com/Plaatjie_/status/696641468463767552

Black people CANT be racist we are already suppressed so we can't benefit from it #fuckwhitepeople https://t.co/aV0RLPUKvi

— Freeband pluto (@PlutoFreeband) February 8, 2016

The offensive writing appeared on the campus walls in support of the individual who will apparently be appearing before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for wearing a T-shirt with the very same words painted on the back. “The individual wearing the T-shirt has been associated with a number of illegal activities on Wits’ campuses in recent weeks, which we are investigating, in line with the University’s policies and procedures,” said the Wits Senior Executive Team.

The graffiti has since been removed by the university.