1. Free State University racist video
2. Varsity workers march against video
3. Every woman is my mother 
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1. Free State University Racist Video

A racism bombshell hit the University of the Free State (UFS) on Tuesday when a video was distributed showing five black cleaners at a traditionally white men’s residence on the campus being “initiated”. Amid loud laughter, they are shown taking part in races, downing beers and drinking a mixture in which a student had secretly urinated. Hundreds of furious black students gathered on the lawn next to the campus library on Tuesday afternoon, demanding an explanation and singing protest songs. Student leaders managed to persuade them to delay a protest march until Wednesday morning.

Screaming students condemned the scenes on the video and waved placards with messages such as “Enough is enough”. Speaking to Volksblad at the spontaneous campus protest, a student said: “We’re furious. The problems at the campus have now escalated, and become a full-blown human-rights issue.” The video was apparently recorded by students at the Reitz men’s residence last September.

Given mixture to drink

The narration on the video begins: “Once upon a time the ‘boere’ lived peacefully here on Reitz Island, until one day when the less-advantaged discovered the word ‘integration’ in the dictionary.” The cleaners take part in a “boat race” (a beer-downing competition), a dance, a sprint race, a mock rugby practice and finally, they’re given a mixture to drink. The video shows garlic being put into a dish full of what looks like dog food. “We know they’re less privileged so we’re adding a bit of meat,” says the narrator.

Another student puts the bowl on the toilet and urinates into the mixture. The brew is then distributed in plastic glasses to the cleaners. All five of them spit out the first mouthful, but try to finish it amid loud encouragement from the students. The video ends with the words: “That, at the end of the day, is what we think of integration.” This is followed by one of the students asking a cleaner: “What does ’sefebe’ mean in Afrikaans?” “A black whore,” she replies.

Helen Zille, national leader of the Democratic Alliance strongly condemned “the disgusting abuse” of the cleaners, by the students who made the video. The Freedom Front Plus, too, has condemned the video. Youth leader Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg distanced the organisation from the “atrocities screened on a video reportedly produced at the institution”. “The FF Plus Youth will never condone, nor justify, the violation of the human dignity of any person. “If the video footage is real and the description thereof in media reports, correct, the event speaks of inhumane conduct which should not be left unpunished,” said Van Rensburg.

The cleaners’ union, NEHAWU, intended joining several black or mainly black groups who were planning a protest march at the campus on Wednesday morning. They’ll be handing over a memo listing their grievances and suggestions to the UFS management.
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2. Varsity workers march against video 
   
Workers at the University of the Free State sang and carried posters ahead of a protest on Wednesday about a student video showing black workers’ dignity being violated. The video surfaced on Tuesday, but was made last year September, and includes footage of a group of black workers eating meat that had been urinated on. The group of black and white workers plan to march to university management to hand over a memorandum expressing their concern over the video.

The video depicts four white male students taking black, elderly, female workers and making them down a bottle of beer, run a race, play rugby and then kneel and eat the meat, according to Democratic Alliance spokesperson in the province, Liana Van Wyk, who has seen the video. "It looked like they were willing [participants] but they didn’t know what purpose the video served...," she said.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union and other worker unions gathered at the campus entrance on Wednesday morning bearing posters that read: "Fourie do something or we will" and "Stop this white arrogance".

University rector Frederick Fourie and university management have condemned the video. Fourie said two of the students involved in the video were still studying and had since been barred from entering the campus grounds and the other two had completed their studies last year. Police have blocked the road outside the campus and will monitor the march until it is concluded.
 - SAPA

3. Every woman is my mother

www.int.iol.co.za

The home-made video is an outrageous display of dehumanization of a people by racism and apartheid. It is but one of the extreme examples of continued humiliation of disempowered black people.

http://toomuchcoffee.co.za/2008/02/27/free-state-university-racist-video/

There is a notion among the white youth that they cannot be blamed for
apartheid sins. Yet, they continue to benefit materially from the apartheid sins through the inherited loot. And among these beneficiaries, are clearly those who are determined to perpetuate racism and its trademark disregard for the humanity of  black people. All reasonable South Africans, especially black people have to (share in the) blame for giving in to the feeble self-government and administration of our societal affairs that are predominetly led by greedy men and women with no principles and basic understanding of the meaning of *change*.

Who are not ashamed of being bankrolled by crooked businessmen who amass their wealth by criminal means. Who among them are world infamous liars, fraudsters, sexists, nyphomaniacs and corporate psychopaths. A stop to white racism and humiliation starts with defying and removing the present corrupt government from power. It must proceed with:

1. a clear demand from those want to rule, to confront the crimes of apartheid
   and its current racist legacy nationwide
2. punishment of apartheid criminals that roam our streets freely and rehabilitation
   of the citizens for life in a normal human society.
3. cancellation of apartheid debts and corrupt post-apartheid deals including arms
   deals
4. a demand for reparations from domestic and international sponsors of apartheid

Not a politically driven enrichment of the ruling party-compliant black elite targeted for 25% benefit of the white controlled business! But the development of all South Africans to benefit from 100% of our economy equitably. There wont be peace, restoration of human dignity and healing among black people as long as the coexistence with white people, who live in fortified mansions together with a few rich blacks, is governed by the post-1990 Muzerewa-style settlement. This settlement reached with the "worst racist regime since Nazi Germany", predominently by the ANC without a mandate from the majority blacks is
feeble and cannot stand the test of time. For it has already proven to have been hastened primarily by the white anxiety to maintain the apartheid loot and the aspiring black elite to acquire a slice of it. Not the will of the oppressed people.

The chickens continue to come home to roost. Vukani nonke!

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s) and not do necessarily reflect the views of the AfricaFiles' editors and network members. They are included in our material as a reflection of a diversity of views and a variety of issues. Material written specifically for AfricaFiles may be edited for length, clarity or inaccuracies.

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