EFF Solidifies Stance on Name Change of 'Colonial' Residence: #SmutsHasFallen

EFF Solidifies Stance on Name Change of 'Colonial' Residence: #SmutsHasFallen

  • The University of Cape Town recently made the decision to change the name of one of its student residences
  • The student residence was named after Jan Smuts, an apartheid leader, and the institution finally decided it was time to get rid of the name
  • The Economic Freedom Fighters' Student Council reportedly supported the name change and demonstrated outside the campus near the 'res'

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On Monday, 21 June, following the decision by the University of Cape Town (UCT) to rename the Smuts Hall student residence, members of the university’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Student Council reinforced their anti-racism and colonial stance by vandalising the building.

Members of the UCT EFF SC emphasised that by covering a statue of Jan Smuts in plastic bags they raised their discontent under the apartheid leader’s legacy at the university.

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'Lives need to be saved': Cassper Nyovest behind EFF march to SAHPRA

Jan Smuts name is a cause for pain, EFF says students were "haunted"

The EFF SC emphasised that the statue of Jan Smuts had "haunted" black students for a long time while entering the decision to rename the student res at the institution.

EFF, support, Jan Smuts, name, removed, UCT, residence
EFF UCT has shown their stance in support of the name change of Smuts Hall. Image: @EFFSC_UCT
Source: Twitter

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EWN reported that the UCT Council approved the removal of the name 'Smuts Hall' from one of its residences and that the change of name was greenlit at a meeting which was held on Saturday. This follows name changes in various parts of the country, including PE becoming Gqeberha.

EFF shares photos of students protesting outside Jan Smuts Hall

EFF marches for vaccines, calls for supply from Russia and China

Previously, Briefly News reported that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have called on South Africans to band with them to demand additional Covid-19 vaccines from abroad.

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Nathi Mthethwa rejects countless objections to name changes in the Eastern Cape

The party published a statement on Twitter on Friday mobilising South Africans to protest against the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the government. The march is planned for 25 June.

This is as the party demands for the inclusion of the Sputnik-V and Sinovac vaccines, which are produced in Russia and China, respectively, as part of the national government's vaccine rollout programme, according to News24.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Reeshni Chetty avatar

Reeshni Chetty Reeshni Chetty is a senior current affairs reporter. The Damelin journalism and media studies graduate was top of her class with 16 distinctions and she boasts experience in radio, print and digital media. When Reeshni is not rushing to bring you the most important and breaking news in current affairs, she's raising awareness around mental health. Reeshni has a passion for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues.