Students Host Robust Mandela Panel Debate

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The African Emancipation Students Movement (Afri-ESM) hosted a debate on UKZN’s Westville campus titled: “Was Nelson Mandela a Sell Out?”

Manager for Student Governance and Leadership Development, Mr Meli Sibisi, said the platform provided an opportunity for active engagement and encouraged student organisations on campus to be particpatory.

The panel comprised Mr Mandla Shange of the ANC Youth League; the EFF’s Mr Jackie Shandu; Mr Thabani Zikalala of the Black First Land First; the Democratic Alliance’s Ms Nicole Graham; Mr Molaodi Wa Sekake of the Young Communist League; political analyst, Mr Zakhehe Ndlovu, and economist, Mr Ayanda Meyiwa.

Issues surrounding the expropriation of land and negotiations by Mandela while he was still in prison were debated.

UKZN student and Afri-ism President, Mr Mthokozi Mdalose, said the platform was geared at “liberating” students.

*Afri-ESM, founded in January this year, is an organisation whose ideologies are based on Black Consciousness and Pan-Africanism principles. It was formed as a response to eradicate the psychological damages inflicted upon African people by the colonial and apartheid system. Furthermore, part of the existence of Afri-ESM is to delicately reconstruct the image of Africa and its people which they say has been and continues to be tarnished through mass media. The organisation seeks to emancipate Africans from mental incarceration and the role it plays in the social and economic status of Africans in society today. Afri-ESM aims to empower Africans through decolonisation of knowledge and action-based programmes.

Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer