This year marks 10 years since Chumani Maxwele threw excrement at the Cecil John Rhodes statue at UCT’s campus.
Image: David Ritchie/Independent Newspapers (Archives)
It was 10 years ago the 9th of March when Chumani Maxwele threw faeces on the statue of Cecil John Rhodes on the University of Cape Town’s upper campus, which gave birth to the #RhodesMustFall movement, and in turn became a catalyst for heightening the #FeesMustFall movement - a movement which is still taking place today.
When the infamous moment first occurred, it didn't carry the same reverence as it does today.
At the time of the incident, students were protesting against the lack of transformation in the higher learning institutions, and the preservation of symbols tied to subjugation of black people.
The #RhodesMustFall movement was birthed out of wanting the removal of the statue of Cecil John Rhodes on the University of Cape Town’s upper campus.
Maxwele donned with a whistle, a pink hard hat, barechested, tracksuit pants and a sign around his torso stating, “Exhibit White Arrogance @ UCT”. It was a tense scene with a number of photographers on hand documenting and witnessing the moment when Maxwele threw the faeces onto the statue.
Chuman Maxwele throws human faeces at a statue of Cecil John Rhodes.
Image: Brenton Geach/Independent Newspapers (Archives)
At the time of the incident, Maxwele said: “As black students we are disgusted by the fact that this statue still stands here today as it is a symbol of white supremacy. How can we be living in a time of transformation when this statue still stands and our hall is named after (Leander Starr) Jameson, who was a brutal lieutenant under Rhodes.
Maxwele, along with fellow #RhodesMustFall orchestrators, called for transformation of the university’s infrastructure, including the renaming of campus roads and buildings.
“This poo that we are throwing on the statue represents the shame of black people. By throwing it on the statue we are throwing our shame to whites’ affluence.
“As black students here we have to change our ways just to fit in, and we have to keep quiet for almost three years before we can speak in the classrooms. It is time for all of that to change.”
There is no denying that the very moment left a mark on the institution and the country as it brought about a number of changes at UCT.
It led to a number of changes at the university including the removal of the Cecil John Rhodes Statue, an annual transformation report being released and a change from the Jameson Memorial Hall to the Sarah Baartman Hall.
Hundreds of students and locals all pitched up at the time to witness the taking down off the UCT Cecil John Rhodes statue in light of the #RhodesMustFall movement.
Image: Ross Jansen/Independent Media (Archives)
Moreover, the moment also fed into the #FeesMustFall movement, which sparked country-wide protests from students demanding free education, and seeking an end to financial exclusion.
It also led to the university taking action against Maxwele to expel him, and institute disciplinary action against him. It was a long drawn out process with Maxwele being expelled before ultimately challenging the ruling in court.
After having his expulsion set aside, he went on to complete his studies at the university, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Politics, Gender and African Studies. He also completed his Honours degree.
The former student activist, now 39 years old, declined to answer questions pertaining to the moment and the days since but did give a statement.
“The #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movement was a rejoinder to a long history of African people’s resistance against the brutal history of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa.
“Therefore, #RhodesMustFall was a historical and political reminder to the post-apartheid government of the ANC that it must never forget the historical resistance of the African people as to what were they about as articulated by the likes of Tiyo Soga, Elijah Makiwane, Pambani Mzimba, John Tengo Jabavu, Ntombikayise Maxwele, Isaac Wauchope, Solomon T. Plaatje, John Knox Bokwe, Walter B. Rubusana, Afred Mangena, Paul Xiniwe, Vakele Maxwele, Oliver R. Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Winnie Mandela and Nelson Mandela,” Maxwele said.
“Therefore, #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall was a political relay and continuation of our long and painful history of African people fighting against colonialism and apartheid.”
Independent Media’s award-winning photographer Ayanda Ndamane was on the scene at the time of the incident, with security trying to prevent him from gaining access to the grounds, and he also reflected saying that no one knew how impact that moment would become.
“I don't think they thought it was going to be as big as it became, because once that statue was removed, or rather once the protests started, it went through most universities and even overseas,” Ndamane said.
“It was historical because we never thought one day the Rhodes statue or others would be removed at UCT. Never, never in our lifetime.”
It was 10 years ago when Chumani Maxwele threw faeces on the statue of Cecil John Rhodes on the University of Cape Town’s upper campus, which gave birth to the #RhodesMustFall movement, and in turn became a catalyst for heightening the #FeesMustFall movement.
Image: File picture: Independent Newspapers
Ndamane said that he was first notified a few hours before the moment when the students of the #RhodesMustFall movement contacted him, along with a few other photographers, to notify them.
“They called saying that they're going to Khayelitsha to fetch the ammunition. They call it (the faeces) ammunition… But, you know, even when they're saying it, you're not sure how they are going to get to UCT with it... I think they fetched that with a Mercedes-Benz or something. When they went and fetched that, you're not sure, you're like hoping that it is going to happen.
“But, eventually, when I went to UCT, it was (actually) happening. It was a bit scary and shocking...There were a lot of students who were involved in that, but when you went there on the day, it was only Chumani, the statue and the security.”
Ndamane said that it seemed like the security were less worried about the faeces being thrown on the statue, and more worried about him.
“I think there was a video of me fighting with the security. They were more worried about me taking pictures than Chumani doing what he was doing to that statue.”
Since that moment, students across the country still continue to protest against fee blocks and academic exclusion with students at the University of Cape Town and the University of Stellenbosch having protested at the start of the year.
In the case of UCT, the council chair Norman Arendse (SC) announced that a joint proposal submitted to the council by the Student Representative Council and the executive was accepted to address the fee block issue.
One of the organisations that played a role in the recent protests is the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) Youth Command.
Takalani Makhwathana, leader of the UCT branch, said while there remains an immense gratitude to the #FeesMustFall leaders and activists of 2015, there is still more that needs to be done.
“We remain deeply grateful to the generation of #FeesMustFall activists, as their movement marked a turning point in South African politics. It was a moment when youth political engagement intensified, and we saw more young leaders emerging and taking up space, including in Parliament.
“However, we recognise a concerning trend where the primary goal of youth activism seems to be securing positions in legislative bodies, rather than maintaining an active, militant movement for free and decolonised education. Parliament should be one avenue, not the sole destination, of youth political activism,” Makhwathana said.
Scores of UCT students block the entrances to the Middle and Upper campuses in a protest against fee blocks and housing shortages.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
“In terms of current sentiment among students, the feeling is not one of betrayal by the leaders of #FeesMustFall, but rather frustration with the government. Many of the promises made after 2015-2016 have not materialised, and students today still face financial exclusion, a lack of accommodation, and ongoing struggles with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).”
Makhwathana said that the main difference between then and now is that while student activism continues, evidenced by the recent protests across campuses, there is a lack of national coordination.
“Unlike #FeesMustFall, which saw a united front across institutions, today's protests are largely isolated to individual universities. A movement with a unified national strategy, whether for the removal of the NSFAS accommodation cap, the scrapping of student debt, or even another wave of the #FeesMustFall movement would be far more effective.
“Ultimately, the fight for free, quality, and decolonized higher education is far from over, and today’s students understand that they must continue the struggle.”
theolin.tembo@inl.co.za