Wits Administration & Faculty Lead Protest Against Xenophobia

At one of its regular meetings, the Wits University Executive Committee decided that they could not continue with their regular agenda given the shocking level of xenophobic violence that has rocked Johannesburg and the surrounding province of late. These violent attacks have been taking place in informal settlements and townships throughout the area and over 40 people have been killed by marauding mobs. The victims have mostly been foreign residents (Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Somalis and others) who have been attacked by their neighbors.

The police have worked to restore order, but the attacks have erupted quickly and in different areas. The government has discounted the xenophobic aspects of the crimes, blaming the acts on criminal elements and thereby ignoring underlying causes. Regardless of motivation for the attacks (xenophobia, poverty, resentment that foreigners have homes while residents do not), basic human rights are being violated. The press had been full of criticism of the government for not acting sooner.

At the meeting of the Wits Executive, it was decided that the academic community needed to make a collective statement. Prof. Yunnus Ballim, Wits Acting Vice-Chancellor, called on the Academic Community to gather yesterday and stage a protest on one of Johannesburg's busiest downtown streets during rush-hour.

As Randy and I joined faculty and staff colleagues on the Wits campus, we were amazed by the number of faculty colleagues who showed up. All of the senior administration was there, the Deans were all there, the heads of schools, Nobel laureates, young and old, the eminent and the esteemed, more than 350 gathered on the front steps of the main administration building at 3:30.

There was deep concern raised about the violence and the government's inaction. Ballum said in his statement "we are here today to speak with one voice: Let us stop the violence and xenophobia. And let us restore thereby our common humanity." The assembled group was then led out to the street by the Loyiso Nongxa, the Vice-Chancellor, and Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner.


As we moved through the Wits gates, the marchers stretched out along both sides of Jan Smuts Avenue and onto the median strip for maximum coverage. The lines stretched for about 1/4 mile and at the peak of the protest, more than 700 people faculty, students and staff came together to make a statement against the ongoing strive.

The precipitating acts of violence were despicable, the inaction by the government is of grave concern, but the spirit in the crowd was really electric. Several Witsies commented that they had not seen a protest like this since the days of anti-apartheid protests. Some wondered if this was the start of a new wave of public protest. For one and a half hours, the various deans, DVC's, faculty, and even the University General Counsel stood together - for peace, for human rights, for an end to the violence and calling on the government to act.

I know that protests like this are of limited value, but they can serve to energize individuals, embarrass governments and start a chain of change. Many of the motorists who drove by honked their horns in support. Many raised fists and others took pictures with their cell phones.
Thankfully, the townships were silent last night and today the government relented and called upon the army to support the police in maintaining peace.

On another note, I should add that while violence did erupt in many places, there were other communities where people joined together. We have a wonderful woman who cleans for us once a week and she happens to come from Losotho. She told me yesterday that the South African citizens in her neighborhood had patrolled the streets to protect all of the community's residents. They were not going to allow violence against anyone to take root in their area. I pray that this spirit of community support continues where she lives and takes root in the communities which have been ablaze with xenophobia and violence.


It is especially ironic that this all occurs as the continent prepares to celebrate Africa Day on May 25th.

As we stood together, we remarked more than once that we could not imagine a similar gathering of administration and faculty at our former university. There are certainly lots of examples of protest on American campuses, but administrations at private institutions are usually reluctant to take the chance on offending a constituency. Some members of an administration might participate in a faculty or student led demonstration, but neither of us could imagine a protest led by an administration. Although who knows with the great new President of Harvard, maybe things will be different.