By Rachel Mohamed
In celebration of Heritage Month, the University of Cape Town (UCT) held the official renaming ceremony for the Sarah Baartman Hall last week. This event honors the legacy of Sarah Baartman. According to UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola, the renaming follows a historic decision made by the UCT Council in 2018 to rename the Jameson Memorial Hall in her honor.
Speaking on VOC News, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Elelwani Ramugondo confirmed that the renaming process has been lengthy.
“It actually began when activist students led by the Rhodes Must Fall movement called for our campus to be decolonized. The students correctly identified Jameson as a close associate of Cecil John Rhodes, who played a crucial role in the imperialist actions of Britain. They highlighted how mining was supported by forced labor and the displacement of people from their land to mine gold and diamonds, ultimately benefiting the colonial system and those who profited from it,” said Ramugondo.
Listen to the full interview:
VOC News
Photo: Supplied
