WHY THE FALL OF RHODES STATUE IN SOUTH AFRICA IS A MISPLACED ACTION.

Events in the South Africa’s Cape Town University campus last week – the demonstration that caused the pulling down of the statue of Cecil Rhodes- was celebrated by the African students across the ‘Rainbow Nation’ as a sign of good things to come and black emancipation.

The Rhodes Statue being lifted away (Photo The Guardian)

I saw some of my friends who believe in the concept of ‘Black Africa for Black Africa’ raising a fist and punching the air in victory via their tweets and statuses on social media. It signaled a new dawn in the history of South Africa over two decades since the obnoxious Apartheid walls tumbled.

The decision to pull down the Rhodes statue was democratically reached by the student body. They voted on it, which meant the university authorities had no reason to veto the decision –even if they wanted. The majority had spoken in one voice and as the tenets of democracy dictates; it must be heard and complied with.

Cecil Rhodes was undoubtedly a British imperialist- ruthless and stubborn as such. He was also a business man who built his fortune through diamond trade which came from the bowels of South Africa and other Southern states. He founded the diamond conglomerate De Beers. He helped the British crown in her expansionist agenda culminating in him having his name bestowed on a country- Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe). He played a crucial role in the British-Boer wars, contributing resources to his British compatriots to trounce their enemies. In short, all his activities-economic and political were insidious towards the black race in South(ern) Africa.

The statue of Cecil Rhodes was not built and placed on the campus of Cape Town University by default.  The land on which the University was built was a gift from Rhodes. In fact he financed the founding of the University (which is now one of the famous in Southern Africa). Yes, one can argue that the land was originally for the Azanians (aborigines of South Africa). He also used his wealth to promote education (skewed towards his kinsmen) and other aspects of South African economy.

So, why do I argue that the pulling down of Rhodes Statue is misplaced?

The destruction of a monument is regarded by many as a victory; a case of good triumphing over evil; the ushering in of a new era or phase in a country’s advancement. It is usually a celebration to signal the divorce between a brutal era and a new progressive and hopeful era.

Instances such as the pulling down of the Berlin Wall, the statues of Saddam Hussein and Ghaddafi, Lenin were celebrated by the people of their country.

The argument proffered by the students is: the presence of the statue is an indication of institutional racism and reminder of imperialism; that it is a reminder of the atrocities of the hurtful past; that it is an anathema to present day events in South Africa.

The pulling down of the statue would not do anything to change the present teacher population (black teachers Vs White teachers). At present, the figures paint this picture: UCT boast of 1,500 academics out of which only 100 black academics on its campus.

This won’t change for a long time. Wouldn’t it have been better for these students to invest energy in fighting the rule that makes it more difficult to attract black teachers? What about the curriculum of the school which makes no room for African Studies yet has vast field for what the students’ term ‘Eurocentric’ studies? Maybe that would be their next pre-occupation.

Again, the pulling down of the statue won’t bring about any drastic economic changes in the South African economy and reduce the frightening unemployment rates. At present the statistics read as such: 25.5% in the second quarter of 2014. The unemployment rate rose by 0.3% from a rate of 25.2% in the first quarter of the year as contained in the quarterly labour force survey by Statistics South Africa .

Wouldn’t the impact of the students demonstration better be geared towards the ANC government, the managers of the economy to ensure that the right policies are designed to overcome this challenge of youth unemployment?

These leaders in South Africa are themselves neo-imperialists who continuously indulge in one form of malpractice that plunge the country into the pit of economic wreckage. Allegations of corruption and nepotism have been leveled against some leading government officials. Some in powerful positions are in bed with these ‘imperialists’ to choke the country. Yet nothing is being done to change that tide. A demonstration like that in Hong Kong would have made a larger impact.

Isn’t the action of the students a slap in the face of this whole ‘Rainbow Nation’ agenda propounded by the Nelson Mandela after independence in 1994? Madiba himself championed and institutionalized this concept by inspiring the rugby team of South Africa (Springbok) to win the rugby world cup tournament in 1995?

One can understand the actions of the students of the University of Cape Town. The history of South Africa is brutal and gory episode because it was one of the longest suppressive policies of this century and its freshness has not evaporated from the consciousness of many South Africans. Most of these student protestors witnessed it-either at first hand (victims) or secondary (family relations or neighbours) so one could understand their frustrations and bubbling fury. This notwithstanding the ‘Rainbow Nation’ tag has been marred to a degree.

Cecil Rhodes was a racist, imperialist, a dubious businessman and a murderer (maybe). Having his statue there might have irked some nerves. The statue which had been sitting on the campus and other monuments are a reminder of history; an inclining into the past.

Now, the statue is gone. Victory has been attained. The sad reality is that the colonial legacy of Cecil Rhodes and his cohorts still stands, hands on hips, feet firmly in the ground, staring at South Africa with a little smirk across their faces. 

So I ask the question what next? A demonstration to change all streets and state monuments bearing names of white ‘imperialists’ in South Africa? Well, one can hope this event does not degenerate or inspire other reactions that would turn into a ball of strife and confusion.