Following the launch of non-profit organisation Crime Watch this year, Rhodes University took a stand against corruption last week (24 May) at Eden Grove, where academic, administrative, student leadership and community representatives from in and outside of the university were invited to sign a pledge against crime and corruption.
Guest speaker Dr David Lewis, executive director of Crime Watch, congratulated the University for its efforts to support the organisation’s initiative and involve the various leadership representatives of the university.
“I want to emphasise that this was not organised at our instigation. It was the University that took the initiative and, in so doing, Rhodes not only gives concrete expression to a positive, progressive ethos at the heart of an important institution, but it demonstrates the institution’s understanding of the principle that is at the heart of our OWN approach to the problem of combating corruption and that will determine the success or failure of the CW project,” he added.
He said corruption is a problem that is not only directly exacerbating the material poverty of a great many already disadvantaged South African communities, but is also responsible for a massive erosion of trust between, on the one hand, the public, and on the other, their elected representatives and those who are employed to serve the public.
“We are not an organisation that promises to do something ‘for’ the great mass of South Africans,” said Dr Lewis, “We are rather an organisation that promises to provide the public with a platform to participate in confronting a problem that, like it or not, belongs to all of us.”
Dr Lewis also elaborated on the levels of crime both at a governmental to a grassroots level, from nepotism to having to give a “tjo-tjo”, a bribe, at a public hospital to merely get their prescriptions filled. He added to that corruption in itself, whether in public service or not, was not a suburban phenomenon but a serious threat to rule of law.
“Given its nature, it is not very often that a University takes a public stand as a body collective on an issue,” said Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat, expressing his pride at the university being the first of many tertiary institutions in the country to make such a strong public declaration. “By signing this pledge,” he said, “we commit ourselves to the fight against corruption”.
University members who signed the pledge included trade unions NEHAWU and NTEU, deans, heads of department, members of management Student Representative Council (SRC).
Dr Mabizela closed the pledge ceremony by reiterating the need to live out the pledge through daily commitment. “Democracy will stay,” he said, “as long as we’re vigilant and care about these issues [of crime]”.
Corruption Watch was launched in January 2012 and aims to provide a platform in which South Africans can utilise to fight and denounce crime and corruption in service delivery and in government. Crime Watch’s visit to Rhodes is part of a drive to mobilise the country’s universities amid nationwide protest on the daily fraudulent activity in state power and communities.
By Wilhelmina Maboja
Photo: Dr David Lewis, executive director of Crime Watch
Photo by: Ettione Ferreira