The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation (DASO) on Tuesday called for an investigation of alleged anti-Semitic hate speech at the University of the Witwatersrand.

This comes after anti-Semitic messages were spray-painted onto boards at the university.

DASO condemned the hate speech and called on the university to initiate an investigation into the matter, and to submit evidence to the South African Human Rights Commission and the South African Police Service for further investigation.

The party said the kind of language which had been sprayed had no place in a country with a constitutional democracy which recognised the principles of freedom, equality and dignity.

DASO leader and DA MP Yusuf Cassim said it was a cause of great concern that “racial and other divisions on our campuses are increasingly used as a strategy by some students during this fraught time”.

He further alleged that he was referred to as “Samoosa Cassim” in a bid to mock his identity as a Muslim South African during a recent protest. Cassim said he was considering his options regarding the verbal attack on him.

“While this is deeply upsetting, it is not surprising that this level of hatred is allowed to take root and flourish at our universities when violence is encouraged by some, and dissenting views are put down vigorously,” said Cassim.

Cassim said campuses should be spaces for debate and the interrogation of ideas.

“We urge all students on our campuses to reject hate, and to unite behind peaceful and practical solutions to our current higher education crisis” said Cassim.