Women-Victims of the 2016 Racist Protest at University of the Free State.

Women-Victims of the 2016 Racist Protest at University of the Free State.

By Rorisang David Mahlo.

Though the University of the Free State (UFS) has released a statement on the 4^th of March 2016 that strongly condemned the racist attack on protestors two weeks down the line, after the mass disruptions that resulted in total shut down of the whole University campus, from 23 to 26 February 2016; certain women were left with much agony that will forever stay in their minds.

The UFS Vice President of Student Representative Council (SRC) Mpho Khiti is one of those ladies who will always remember the 2016 UFS racist protest with tears; “When I remember those days my heartbeat changes” Said Khati. 

According to Khati, a small group of students and University workers went to Shimlas playground certain  that the Rector and Vice Chancellor of the University of the Free State will definitely be attending the rugby match between UFS’s Shimlas and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Madibas with a plan to have the Chancellor`s attention.

In the execution of their plan, which was the disruption of the match for the attention of the Rector, it is alleged that the white spectators flied from their seats and started beating up the protestors. “It is in this regard when I was beaten up by one giant white man who is not even a student or one of the university workers” states Khati.

According to Khati, in her entire life she had never experienced a physical torture by any one on Earth, but she never thought protesting for human rights at UFS could result in her being a victim of the circumstance. “This giant old man battered and kicked me on the face even when I was down, we were all humiliated in front of our Rector but he did not even utter any statement” Says Khati.

As if this was not enough some ladies were spotted, identified and detained by the battalion of police and UFS security at their residents. “One of my res-mate`s door was opened with a gun when they arrested her, you can imagine the sound of a gun in the room” says Khati.

On the other hand Trudy Roos, a white first year student, all the way from Cape Town, joined the University of the Free State under the impression that the University of the Free State has transformed from its bad old history of racism, and she now looks the university with a different perspective all together.

“I used to walk freely and fearlessly all over the campus at night when I got here, but I cannot do that anymore, even during day light, I cannot socialize with my black friends due to the prevalent atmosphere” Trudy say.

 Most importantly, Roos`s fear became worse when one of her friends was attacked in his resident (Vishuis) who suffered the knee injury that landed him to the hospital  by a group of workers and black students, and this was not reported anywhere. It is suspected that this happened during the time when all students staying in the university residents were evacuated by the police and university security for the safety of their lives.

“It was so terrible seeing him lying on the hospital bed with bandages surrounding his knees, while knowing that he has done nothing worth suffering for, and let alone seeing the pictures of his swollen knee from our WhatsApp chats. This was the time that I felt like quitting this university was the best option,” alluded Roos.

Both Khati and Roos are of the view that UFS 2016 protests has left them with a bad memories that will forever remain painful in their hearts. Ultimately and very sadly, they both reported that they do not believe in post trauma counselling phenomenon and that is what will make them remember that event with bloody broken hearts.