In South Africa a new pastime has emerged: find a statue with some link to a colonialist and throw something on it (paint or shit will do) and if you can disassemble it, then get the pick-axe out and have a go.
This has just recently played out at the University of Cape Town – my old stomping ground. There is a statue of Cecil John Rhodes on campus, which a black student took umbrage to, and he therefore decided to empty the contents of a portable toilet all over poor old Cecil’s head. Quo dos for working out the logistics of carting said toilet from a township - without spilling – but I do question this student’s motivation in pulling off such a stunt. Sorry, I meant “protest”.
Apparently Chumani Maxwele was fed up with seeing this symbol of colonialism presiding over campus and decided to do something about it. Max (easier to type) has been at UCT since 2011 so either he:
a) is really slow in getting into gear
b) lost a bet
c) failed an exam and decided to take his frustration out on an inanimate object (I would suggest that if this was the case more statues would be in danger given Max’s age, time spent at UCT and the degree he is supposedly enrolled for)
d) felt such hurt, anger and disenfranchisement from seeing a ghastly symbol of black repression towering over a university that should be a symbol of equality and enlightenment that demeaning Rhodes by shitting on him was the only way to ease the pain or
e) is an attention-seeking deadbeat
I am going with e – an attention seeking deadbeat.
Max is angry and frustrated. You see attending one of the best – if not the best – university in the country is a massive hardship. The bursary bestowed upon Max that pays for this privilege is an administrative burden. Max feels that being black in South Africa with a first class education really sucks because being spoilt for choice when it comes to jobs is a heavy responsibility (lightened somewhat if you choose to take up a role in government where you don’t have to work; Max’s “political science” degree should stand him in good stead then).
Basically it’s shit having the world at your feet.
But credit to Max, he got it done. The statue is coming down. No reasoned debate, no student vote, no democratic process to be seen – just the power of the mob! It leads me to wonder what is next for Mad Max – what’s his next target?
In his own words:
“How do you decolonise Africa? Fanon made it clear decolonisation must happen through violence. I think it is highly unlikely South Africa can avoid this.”
Glad he didn't throw the word "cockroach" in there otherwise I would be really worried!
Out.