‘It is quite sad that Thabang Mosiako has had to suspend his training because of this incident. This act of violence not only affects him but also South Africa’s participation at a continental level.’
These were the words of the deputy minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela who was at the North-West University Potchefstroom campus on Wednesday to address the alleged racial attack against Thabang Mosiako, Rantso Mokopane and Sandy Londt.
Manamela met with the vice-chancellor, Prof. Dan Kgwadi, the NWU management, the student representative council and the victims of the attack that happened on the Bult two Sundays ago.
The deputy minister says they are collectively angered by the incident for the following reasons:
‘Firstly, that there are still people who believe that violence is the only way to express themselves. Secondly, that there are people who believe, as allegedly happened on the day, that human beings of other races are inferior and that they, therefore, can use their might against them. Thirdly, that the police allegedly acted in the manner in which they did. We find it condemnable. I’ll be raising this matter with the minister and structures of the police,’ he said.
According to him, the police are taking the matter very seriously at the moment. ‘We will ask them to escalate the investigation. We will be monitoring the situation and doing everything in our power to ensure that this barbarism comes to an end and that people who behave in this manner are brought to book.’
‘We clearly have to show everyone, all the students of NWU, the Potchefstroom community and South Africa as a whole that we will not tolerate any acts of violence, especially those that are racially motivated. Those acts belong in the past,’ he said.
Manamela said he was impressed that the University had set up policies and structures to deal with such matters. ‘The University is involved in continuous discourse to deal with issues of transformational challenges, in particular – race and language being the most pertinent issues.’
Kgwadi said there were bound to be racists on the campus but that there should be zero tolerance for them, both black and white. He added that the university would be assisting Thabang with counselling.
Thabang Mosiako later told the Herald that he is very stressed and cannot train for the upcoming event in Algeria. ‘I get migraines whenever I’m in the sun and the doctor says they could carry on for three to four weeks. I would have been on another level in terms of preparation but I’m just sitting and doing nothing except for watching my training partners at their sessions. This is very painful,’ he said sadly.
Thabang says he remains positive that he will be fit in time for the African Champs. He says his long-term goal is to represent South Africa in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
*The suspects in Mosiako’s case have not yet been arrested but the SAPS is working closely with the university to bring the suspects to book.The North West police spokesperson, Lt-Col Adele Myburgh says the police have established a task team to investigate the attack on the SA athlete. She added that the team, headed by Col Visser are following leads at this stage.
She says the case is also in the process of being transferred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to investigate allegations of police assault.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
Photo: Selogile Leshage
