Indian professor at South African university resigns after furore over ‘racist’ comment

Indian Professor at South African University Resigns After Furore Over 'Racist' Comment

The University of the Witwatersrand is reportedly considering suspending Srila Roy as a disciplinary process gets underway.

Background

The controversy was sparked by a social media post made by Roy on February 21 that read: "South Africans have little ambition, are complacent and have a poor ethic." She was reacting to a discussion on social media about foreign nationals at South African universities after the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education expressed concern about the presence of 7.7 per cent foreign nationals at these universities.

Reaction

The post was subsequently deleted, but the same committee, as well as the South African Sociological Association (SASA) and colleagues at her own university were among the first to react to it. "Discriminatory and degrading attitudes have no place in post-school education or in our society," said the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Tebogo Letsie.

University Response

Wits University condemns professor's remark

The Department of Sociology at Wits University condemns in the strongest manner the offensive, racist and indefensible tweet made. The intensity of the responses to the tweet reflects the visceral pain it has caused, especially to Black South Africans. We reject the tweet and its sentiment outright and unconditionally," a statement from the department said.

SASA Response

SASA said Roy's remarks violated the commitment to promote cooperation at the local, national, regional and international levels among persons engaged in the study of society and have brought the discipline, academia and the country into disrepute.

Conclusion

Professor Roy could not be reached for comment. The university said that due processes would be followed in the matter.