TOPIC:

Frank

This was one of those events in South Africa that is beyond reason, since it achieved nothing except make a mess and provide a few students with an entertaining distraction from their studies.

The report below shows the statue after its first defacement. More paint has since been added. Later rioting by students included the burning down of the Law Library. No doubt there is more to come.
www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/King-Geo...ced-at-UKZN-20150326

Here is the story behind the name of the College:

I spent some of my formative years years at this campus when it was called the 'University of Natal (Durban)'. It is now the 'University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College)'

Regards
Brett

Sorry! Here is the story of Howard College omitted above.
The building of Howard College at the University of Natal (now the University of Kwazulu Natal) was made possible by a donation from Durban businessman T.B. Davis, in remembrance of his son Howard who killed in the Battle of the Somme in WWI. The Natal University College, which had started in Pietermaritzburg in 1906, extended tuition to Durban in 1923, using the premises of the Natal Technical. By the mid 1920s, NUC was looking to establish its own campus and Davis donated £140000 for a building which was built on 50 acres of land in the Stella bush.
Howard College was opened in 1931 by the Governor General of South Africa, the Earl of Clarendon.

Brett

Yes indeed, he was the King Emperor and therefore a figurehead who represented the absolute worst excesses of the whole Empire in the eyes of some, notwithstanding, he was also a constitutional monarch, quite unlike his wretched cousins and it was certainly the case that he had no real influence and no control, whatsoever, of his Governments imperial policies.

BereniceUK wrote:

Frank Kelley wrote: George V has been defaced, why?

Perhaps because he was King of the British Dominions between 1910-1936, of which the Union of South Africa was an self-governing member, and during that time segregationist laws were introduced to the country. He wouldn't have been directly responsible for those laws, but maybe his statue is seen as representing those who were.

Which would show a bit more awareness of the country's history than the students who want the Steyn statue to be removed do.

Hello Brett,
Quite frankly, words fail me, but, perhaps you can help me understand, a number of students are, in actual fact, arsonists?
Is the university actually subsidised by tax payers?
Regards Frank


quote="Brett Hendey" post=58364]Frank

This was one of those events in South Africa that is beyond reason, since it achieved nothing except make a mess and provide a few students with an entertaining distraction from their studies.

The report below shows the statue after its first defacement. More paint has since been added. Later rioting by students included the burning down of the Law Library. No doubt there is more to come.
www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/King-Geo...ced-at-UKZN-20150326

Here is the story behind the name of the College:

I spent some of my formative years years at this campus when it was called the 'University of Natal (Durban)'. It is now the 'University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College)'

Regards
Brett[/quote]

Frank

As is often the case, most university students appreciate the opportunity they have to advance their education. The rioters clearly have other agendas. Burning down the Law Library may have had little or no effect on the arsonists, but it definitely set back serious students in the law faculty Daubing Geo V with paint was pointless. Most students , present and past, (me included), walked by the statue countless times without giving it a thought. I simply do not believe that serious students on the campus suffer pain and anguish about their perception of the British jackboot when they see the statue. Even if their minds wander from their studies, they will other subjects on their student minds.

As to who pays for universities in this country ..... Our recently unemployed President, as one of his parting shots, promised that no-one would be excluded from tertiary education for financial reasons, so that is another burden added on the taxpayer..

The only way to get even a vague understanding of what is going on in South Africa is to live here as a common man or woman for a few months (i.e. not in Clifton, Camps Bay etc in Cape Town). You definitely will not find out through the BBC World Service.

Regards
Brett

Hello Brett,
I am truly lost for words, now then, I wonder, does this sort of thing happen in Namibia?
If not, why?
Regards Frank