On 23 April 2015 the CUT community joined masses of South Africans in the fight against xenophobic and afrophobic attacks. University Assemblies were held at both campuses (in Bloemfontein and Welkom) to express solidarity with the victims affected by the upsurge in senseless and violent attacks against innocent African nationals. 

 

Addressing staff and students at the Assembly, Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, condemned these acts, stating that “CUT is shocked by the acts of brutality and violence that are being committed by South Africans against our fellow African brothers and sisters around the country. As a University that is home to many nationalities from Africa and beyond, we unconditionally condemn these shameful and deplorable acts of violence, which are inimical to the values of Ubuntu. We are in support of the statement issued by Higher Education South Africa (HESA) on behalf of the higher education community, which states that such incidents are inconsistent with the values expressed in, and the founding provisions of, our Constitution. You need to go back and preach the gospel of living in South Africa to your friends and families.” 

Akhona Komeni, the President of the SRC at CUT's Bloemfontein Campus, said that South Africans need to understand their history and the role that other countries have played in the struggle against apartheid: “We are first Africans even before we are humans.  As CUT, we say No to xenophobia!” Julius Akamba, the President of International Student Association at CUT, told the gathered crowd that the only way for Africa to progress is through unity. He appealed to all students to go back to their communities and educate them. Soon after the gathering, silent protests with placard expressing the University’s united stance against xenophobia were held at the main entrances of both campuses. #NoToXenophobia, #WeAreAllAfricans For more photos of the assembly, visit CUT Assembly Against Xenophobia Album on our Facebook page.