The man behind THAT Wits T-shirt
His T-shirt sparked vigorous debate across social media last month. And Zama Mthunzi says that what he had hoped for.
|||Johannesburg - His T-shirt caused chaos and sparked debate across social media last month. It was no ordinary shirt, but one which read “F*** White People”.
And the man who started it all says he just wanted people to talk.
“It all started with the#FeesMustFall movement last year,” said third-year mathematical science student Zama Mthunzi.
Last month, an Art Activation protest was organised by Wits students as a way for them to express how they felt about the university, especially in the wake of #FeesMustFall and the financial exclusion of students.
“I just took a T-shirt and I wrote how I was feeling at that moment. I was angry because so many black students, who are good students, were facing financial exclusion,” said Mthunzi.
“It also came from the fact that white students can pay fees and there is no stress for them. It’s the complete opposite for black students, who are facing uphill battles all the time. Some students may not have been financially excluded but they’re sleeping in libraries or have no textbooks.”
Mthunzi also hoped to create debate and discussion around the issues of race with the T-shirt. “People are still ignorant; as a country we still don’t know where to start when dealing with racism. It’s very important to have this conversation so we can define and deal with it so we can stop having these useless uproars out of nothing,” he said.
“It’s not just about the conversation; for many students this is our only way of responding and expressing ourselves.
“The system has been violent to us, so in response we are using violent language.”
Mthunzi added he was not apologetic for creating or wearing the T-shirt. “I don’t feel that there’s anything wrong with what I did. And more importantly, I don’t want to be begging a system of oppression.”
Although the university is not happy about the situation, Mthunzi said no charges had been laid against him.
SA Human Rights Commission spokesman Isaac Mangena confirmed that they had received a complaint and would be investigating.
Mthunzi said in reaction to the complaint: “I was shocked. Initially, I wasn’t told about it. I don’t know who placed the complaint, but I have law friends and lawyers advising me on how to deal with it.”
ilanit.chernick@inl.co.za
@Lanc_02
The Star