University of Cape Town:Confronting the past

The University of Cape Town began anticipating the South African revolution long before most institutions in the country. Its previous vice-chancellor, Stuart Saunders, began opening up the campus to black students in defiance of the old laws. Now, more than 50 per cent of its students are black.

For this reason, Andre Brink is optimistic about the prospects for the university. Admittedly, there are problems. In some areas in every university in South Africa, there has been a lowering of standards as greater access is given to black students from the townships, who have not received the same schooling. But that, he says, is just a short-term compromise that must be made for long-term gain.

There is also a brain drain, particularly in medicine, law and journalism. But Brink notes that, post-apartheid, there are now, conversely, exchange scholarships.

Mixed residencies, with people of widely different cultural backgrounds living together, are also a problem at UCT. One black student recently accused of raping a female student defended himself by saying, "but it is part of my culture".

A white student responded: "It is part of my culture to hate blacks. Does that mean it is right and I can continue?" It is these kinds of exchanges that are very productive, Brink believes. "Previously we lived in such a closed and claustrophobic society," he says. Now issues are openly debated and confronted.

"The past ten years at the University of Cape Town have been a very exciting time in my life. Within the microcosm of the university, we see the larger issues at work in the whole of our society."