ANT KATZ

“It would be unfortunate if Wits University management now has adopted ‘Gestapo-type’ management tactics of summarily expelling students and staff merely because they hold dissenting views and opinions in this age in our constitutional democracy,” said HETN Chairman Lucky Thekisho in a media release slamming Wits.

RIGHT: After being advised of his impending ouster by Wits’ VC, SRC President Mcebo Dlamini, posted on Facebook “I Love Hitler” and has now built a following of over 5 000 as he travels to campuses to justify his statements

HETN also encourages “those who want to lend a hand of support to make contributions to the ‘Defend Mcebo Dlamini Fund’ for legal costs to mount a strong legal challenge against Wits University in a court of law,” they said. “Those attorneys and advocates who can avail their services pro bono,” said HETN, were also welcome. “Their services will be appreciated.”

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The complete HETN statement reads…

The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) hereby condemns the management of the University of the Witwatersrand, particularly the vice-chancellor, Prof Adam Habib for the erroneous and disproportionately harsh decision to expel student leader, Mr Mcebo Dlamini through succumbing to the demands of the Jewish funders and alumni interests at the university.

In capitulating to the interests of Jewish funders and alumni at the institution, Prof Habib has in our opinion, rendered himself a puppet who had to sacrifice the academic future of student Mr Mcebo Dlamini on the altar of political correctness.

LEFT: Wits VC Prof Adam Habib

It would be unfortunate if Wits University management now has adopted ‘Gestapo-type’ management tactics of summarily expelling students and staff merely because they hold dissenting views and opinions in this age in our constitutional democracy.

We are not merely coming to the defence of Mr Dlamini as a disadvantaged student only but wish to reiterate the principles of fairness and consistency as the white student who urinated on a black man’s face at the University of Cape Town (UCT) to date remains scot-free.

In the same breath, the two ‘blackface students’ of the University of Pretoria and the two white students who attacked black students at Stellenbosch University are as free as birds. In all cases there has been no summary expulsion irrespective of the revolting racist conduct displayed by the students. The Network hereby calls on university managers to remain consistent in dealing with acts of wrongdoing by students irrespective of race colour or creed the students.

As the Network, we will continue to protect and defend the helpless and vulnerable in society and have accordingly resolved to lead a campaign to reinstate President Dlamini as the Wits SRC President because he has been elected by the majority of students at that institution and was not appointed by Prof Adam Habib. We encourage those who want to lend a hand of support to make contributions to the “Defend Mcebo Dlamini Fund” for legal costs to mount a strong legal challenge against Wits University in a court of law. Those attorneys and advocates who can avail their services pro bono are welcome, their services will be appreciated.

We urge all student leaders across institutions of higher learning and student political formations to unite to fight entrenched racism in the higher education sector.

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The Higher Education Transformation Network

 According to their website, “The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) is an independent network of alumni and graduates from various higher education and further educational institutions across South Africa committed to the process of transformation of education and training to increase equitable and meaningful access to education, skills and learning to eliminate of socio-economic disparities.”

At the end of their media release, entitled “HETN condemns expulsion of Wits SRC President Mcebo Dlamini” HETN gives bank and contact details for anyone who wants to assist the “Defend Mcebo Dlamini Fund.”

The media release was signed by Lucky Thekisho (chair of the HETN board) and Hendrick Makaneta, (director alumni support and media relations).

Who is Lucky Lempiditse Thekisho

According to the HETN website, chairman Lucky Lempiditse Thekisho is an admitted attorney with over ten years of working experience across various sectors gained in various capacities across government and other sectors of the SA economy.

He has a LLM (Pretoria); LLB (Pretoria); and a BLC (Pretoria) He is He has completed his Bachelor in Civil Law (BLC), Bachelor in Law (LLB) and Master in Law (LLM) degrees at the University of Pretoria as well as university certificates in Advance Labour Law, Legislative Drafting, Human Resource Management, Environmental Law and Compliance as well as Project Management.

RIGHT: Lucky Thekisho

Thekisho is currently Deputy Commissioner: Legal Services at the Department of Correctional Services.