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The African National Congress (ANC)
congratulates Prof. Jonathan Jansen on his appointment as the first black
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State in its
105-years history. His wealth of experience in the academia will certainly
bring the desired transformation at this University.

Prof Jansen is an
internationally renowned academic, his appointment signal the commitment of
the UFS to continue as a world-class university and at the same time pursue
the objectives of transformation in the interests of the entire University
and South Africa.

We agree with his transformative programme of creating a
non racial, non sexist and democratic institution.

The ANC is however
concerned about the dropping of charges by the University against the former
students who abused black workers in the institution. Contrary to the claim
by the Professor that such dropping of charges will lead to reconciliation
in the University, our view is that such act will not lead to reconciliation
but it will again harden racial attitudes not only in the University but in
the country broadly.

The judicial process could have corrected the former
student's behaviour to conform to a democratic and non racial South Africa.
The dropping of the charges has robbed the former students, their victim,
the University and South Africa of such corrections.

In deed, at the end of
the judicial process all of us will have been persuaded to forgive the
former student after the conclusion of the judicial process. We would have
been appraised of the student attitudes towards their actions and probably
their show of remorse for such action.