Members of the University of Cape Town Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) students’ command have defaced the statue of Jan Smut after the university agreed to rename the Smuts Hall student residence.
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On Monday 21 June the EFFSC UCT unveiled the new name of the student residence.
“What was known as Smuts Hall Residence, is now Upper Campus Residence. The statue of Jan Smuts that haunted black students, is now covered in plastic bag as we wait for UCT executive council to remove it soon. Rubbish belongs in plastic bags,” they said.
What was known as Smuts Hall Residence, is now Upper Campus Residence. The statue of Jan Smuts that haunted black students, is now covered in plastic bag as we wait for UCT executive council to remove it soon. Rubbish belongs in plastic bags. pic.twitter.com/D5WRypcGXl
— EFFSC UCT (@EFFSC_UCT) June 21, 2021
Fighters have successfully unveiled the new name of what was known as Smuts Hall and covered the Head of this racist man. We will not watch, as racist colonial figures continue to be celebrated in UCT. pic.twitter.com/DXQgb3Hst8
— EFFSC UCT (@EFFSC_UCT) June 21, 2021
A statement by the university said the decision to rename the Smuts Hall student residence to Upper Campus Residence was taken following a Council meeting held on Saturday, 19 June 2021.
“This decision of Council takes immediate effect in that the name Smuts Hall will be removed from the residence and in the interim the name Upper Campus Residence will be used until such time that the process of determining a new name is formally concluded.”
“As much as this is part of the ongoing transformation efforts at UCT, any name change process can be emotive for both those calling for the name to be replaced and those wishing for it to be retained. However, if anything, the Smuts Hall renaming should provide a moment through which we view the name changing processes from completely different lenses,” said Babalwa Ngonyama, Chair of UCT Council.