Turfloop Memoirs book issued
The book, Studying under the barrel of a gun- Turfloop Memoirs, was written by a former student at the UL university, Ernest Khosa
LIMPOPO – The who’s who from the University of Limpopo (UL), gathered at the National Library in Tshwane for a book launch. The book, Studying under the barrel of a gun- Turfloop Memoirs, was written by a former student at the university, Ernest Khosa. Khosa, who served as Student Representative Council (SCR) President, was a student at a time when military troops had permanent residence at the university.
“At the height of army repression there was a strike that sent shock waves to both management and the security establishment.
“For one thing, it was organised under the noses of the army, for another they could not comprehend how it was sustained for such a long period when meetings were banned on campus,” he mentions in his book.
Khosa is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Mpumalanga Economic Empowerment Corporation (MEEC), and the Director of Reconstruction and Energy Development Corporation.
Among the guests at the event was the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Onicca Moloi and Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, who said in his speech that the current state of our country saddened him.
“Khosa firstly went through his own personal struggle, that of being a gardener and a mine worker, and won.” Makhura advised students of this generation to strategise about how they voiced their concern.
“The book gives the entire country an opportunity to know that the university of Limpopo played a role in the overall politics and student movement of the country. The Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Makhura, Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi are products of University of Limpopo,” Moloi mentioned that her department is in the process of ensuring that the heritage of Limpopo is preserved.
According to Moloi, UL will soon be declared as a heritage site.
One of Khosa’s special guests was a girl from Pretoria Girls High who were one of the leaders in the revolutionary protest against hair-straightening.
Also present was current Wits University SCR President, Kefentse Mkhari, who expressed to the former Turfloop students (and current leaders in various fields in South Africa) that as people who had experienced university life, they should mentor the current generation.
“We expect you to guide us and advise us how to go about our (#FeesMustFall) struggle instead of capturing our comrades,” said Mkhari.
