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Press Release
Alana Baranov and I met with the Vice Chancellor of the Durban University of Technology, Professor Ahmed Bawa (pictured), at his offices together with Head of Facilities Dr Chetty on Monday 9 February. The meeting was to discuss the upcoming event on campus for Leila Khaled hosted by BDS SA.
RONNIE HERR
Comment from Council of KwaZulu Natal Jewry
DUT Incident
Dear Community Member
Durban University of Technology Incident
On Tuesday 10 February, the Deputy Secretary General of the SRC delivered a memorandum that had emerged from a collaboration between the SRC and the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) to Prof Bawa.
Listed as one of their issues was a demand for the deregistration of Jewish students, particularly those students who do not support the Palestinian struggle. Prof Bawa responded in a letter to DUT students and staff saying that this was outrageous, preposterous and a deep violation of our National Constitution and every human rights principle and that no student at DUT would be discriminated against on the basis of religion, race, gender, political affiliation or sexual orientation.
Alana immediately requested that Prof Bawa issue an official statement on the matter. Prof Bawa has advised that his formal statement is currently being prepared.
The CKNJ will continue to update the community on this very serious issue.
Regards
President
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Council of KwaZulu Natal Jewry
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
MEDIA STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR AHMED BAWA,
VICE-CHANCELLOR & PRINCIPAL,
DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Yesterday (Tuesday, 10 February 2015), I received a memorandum of demand from the SRC and the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), which called for the University to deregister all Jewish students, amongst a list of other requests.
On behalf of DUT, I want to reiterate that this request from these student formations is totally preposterous, unjust, unfair, unreasonable and unconstitutional. It’s in violation of our values and principles. DUT does not discriminate against any person based on their race, religion, colour, ethnicity, sexual orientation or political affiliation.
I have made it very clear to the student leaders from the SRC and the PYA that we will not agree to their demand for the University to deregister its Jewish students. DUT treasures the diversity that our students bring to it.
The University, via its International Centre of Non-violence (ICON), will develop a programme of engagement between students and staff to address the issue of tolerance and social cohesion. We hope that external organisations will join us to participate in this process.
Issued by:
Noxolo Memela
Botanic Mansions
Division of Corporate Affairs
nat cheiman
February 15, 2015 at 12:40 pm
‘Tolerance of what precisely? Are they now going to tolerate the Jews? These academics are clowns. And so are their students.
We as South Africans have had to develop a tolerance of bad governance, entitlement by the previously disadvantaged and a whole lot more.’
Mordechai
February 16, 2015 at 12:47 am
‘Ronnie why are you wasting your time meeting with the Israel haters and Anti Semites – Your time would be better spent devoted to meeting with Jewish young adults and teenagers and pleading and begging them to leave South Africa at all costs. Clearly making Aliyah must be the first choice and if not possible or not going to happen then Australia, Canada or America needs to be the next choice…but leaving South Africa is a must, and don’t listed to leaders who tell you that there is a future in SA. ‘
Choni
February 16, 2015 at 11:12 am
‘Mordechai, Of course you are right about coercing young Jews to leave S.Africa, but going to live anywhere but Israel is not an option. The entire Diaspora is doomed either by anti-Semitism or assimilation.
’