South Africa’s University of Cape Town (UCT) has removed a monument to British colonialist Cecil John Rhodes on Thursday, after a month of student protests against the figure.
MOSCOW
(Sputnik) – The statue, removed to protesters’ cheers, was stored for
“safe keeping,” the statement, published on the website of the
university said.
A decision concerning the statue’s final placement has not been made yet. However, it is likely to be taken to a museum.
The "Rhodes Must Fall" campaign began in March as the UCT students started throwing excrements at Rhodes’ monument in protest against the colonialist’s racism and his legacy at the university. The UCT was built on land donated by Rhodes.
On Wednesday, the UCT’s 30-member council voted for the statue's
removal, saying that it had discussed the issue with the public,
students, academic staff and alumni before coming to the decision.
The removal of the monument marks a successful outcome for the
process, that the UCT started in order to “allow as many people
as possible to express their views,” according to the statement.
Since the protests started, four other monuments, dedicated to colonial-era leaders, have also been the target of people’s discontent. Figures were defaced, several of them by members of the Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party.
The "Rhodes Must Fall" campaign began in March as the UCT students started throwing excrements at Rhodes’ monument in protest against the colonialist’s racism and his legacy at the university. The UCT was built on land donated by Rhodes.
A
student beats the statue of Cecil John Rhodes with a belt as it is
removed from the University of Cape Town (UCT), April 9, 2015
Since the protests started, four other monuments, dedicated to colonial-era leaders, have also been the target of people’s discontent. Figures were defaced, several of them by members of the Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party.
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