The Factual Inaccurate SMS or sorry SSM

This paper is a response to the every angry SMS or sorry I meant (SSM) the Socialist Student movement. The SSM in it newsletter of August 2007, makes numerous accusation with little evidence to prove such, to some accusation evidence is not forthcoming. This paper intends not to intermediate any one in exercising their of freedom of expression. I think it is pivotal that we edges other that from time to time allow there creative juices to flow, to consider at least getting their fact correct or have understanding of discussion as they unfold. This paper will focus on two articles as published in the newsletter of the SSM, one being “ANC YL- this is not Bombay” and second one being “OPEN LETTER OF PROTEST”. There is one thing that is common with these two article and others that were part of the August issues, one there factual inaccurate in relation to the information, lack of coming up with solution to the issues that are seen as problem, there is no dialectical thinking to people who claim to be socialist.

SSM argues from misinformed perspective that the President Fikile Mbalula not the Chairperson as they will want us to believe is racist further than that, they say this is the tool of social analyses and mobilization within the ANC YL. To quote from their newsletter although it is not worth it to be quoted it says, “The African National Congress Youth League (ANC YL) chairperson Fikile Mbalula’s statement that UKZN is beginning to look like Bombay is racist. It implies that our campuses are swarmed by students of Indian origin t the expense Black African students. Thinking in racial categories – apparently the major tool of social analysis and mobilizing within the ANC YL…). The SSM has further accused the CSRC of UKZN of scoring political gains by defending the President of ANC YL to, them(SMS or SSM) his is known as the Chairperson. They accuse the CSRC UKZN of further dividing this university on racial bases, by concurring with the President of ANC YL. It is important that we that we enter this debate from a correct perspective limited to my interpretation. The ANC YL argues that even after the new dispensation, tertiary institutions in South Africa are still confronted by challenges post the mergers of these institution that have a historical background, which is intended to addressed by mergers. The ANC YL even does mention the serious shortfalls that these recently formed institution must address, this include nonstop of academic and financial exclusions. The Youth League argues lucidly that the, composite to the numerical breakdown of exclusions and the unsuccessfulness students specially black students to complete their studies is the configuration of our racist past and this practical sober demonstration in various centers of social, economic and political development.

The argument as raised by the Youth League is that since the attainment of democracy in 1994, the tertiary institutions have inch-by-inch made steps in put into practice the vision enshrined in the historical document known by many in this land, which Freedom Charter of 1955. This could be attributed to many issues, one being the unsuccessfulness of the state to have clear-cut plan on how to address the issue of higher education. This might too many illustrate the lack of political direction of the current party, on how its intend to change the higher education land scale. Equally, this slow progress could be attributed to the reluctance of universities, to implement decision of government hiding behind Institution Autonomy. I think the accepted wisdom of the Youth League to be able to take issues of higher learning must be applauded.

The youth league in assertion that, “In as much as the architects of apartheid saw education as main instrument to hamper and curtail the development of the African in particular and the black person in general, we too in the democratic dispensation view education as the most critical in untangling the chains of marginalisation of the majority of our people.”(Vol 3 No 22:2). The indigenous African remained the most disadvantage in the education system that was in place at the time of the defunct apartheid system. The native received less financial attention from the government of that time, as result most things by the native was less compared to the services that other race received. Hence the 13 year old government said it significant that, its aims principally at speak to the legacy of the defunct apartheid system that was blatantly demonstrated by the colossal disproportionate of resources allocated. It is important that we do not loose sight of the fact government had its means of distributing capital across institutions informed by the racist agenda that sought to ultimately oppress and marginalize the African in particular and the Black person in general.

The ANC YL goes further to identify areas that remain a challenge as pinpointed out by the report of Prof H.P Africa conducted in 2005, this report speak about reasons behind the persistent high unsuccessfulness rates amongst African students points to none other than this same legacy of apartheid(Vol 3 No 22: 3) Despite the fact that Africans are enrolled as the largest racial group, they nonetheless constitute by far a disproportionately lower percentage of those who acquire degrees, predominantly in the serious fields like engineering wherein our own JIPSA programme highlighted as of prime concern with regards to our overall development(Vol 3 No 22:3-4). The ANC YL uses UKZN as university that it challenges have been raised by the report conducted by Prof H.P. Africa. This report does speak the lack of structures that are created to assist student what professor Africa calls “wellness” of students. The central point that Mbalula was putting across is that South African universities should start ensuring that it create conducive environment, for academically excellent, innovative in research, critically engaged with society and demographically representative, redressing the disadvantages, inequities and imbalances of the past. What the YL is referring to hear is a desirable situation in the society of South Africa.


After revisiting the argument by Mbalula it seriously difficult for me to pinpoint any argument that is racist or seeks to mobilize on racial bases as SSM claims that is the case. But it not surprising after all they have also accused one the LSRC members of uttering ‘racist statement’, probably SSM associate with this word ‘racist’ I am not suggesting that there are ‘racist’ merely saying this the word they understand the best. Further SSM speaks of the failure of the ANC government having failed to solve the ‘racial question’ to me it remains unclear of what the SSM is speaking about that it titles the ‘racial question’. The main word in all these discussion is ‘racist’. I hope that in responding to racist utterance as SSM claims, I was not racist myself.





By: Mlondolozi Mkhize