The issue seems very clear: Wits University is bending to serve the interests of the Israeli lobby in South Africa. Wits University’s SRC adopted a boycott of Israel resolution in 2012 (http://tinyurl.com/a3dphzl). The Israeli lobby in South Africa attempted to undermine this resolution by hosting an Israeli Embassy funded concert in 2013. The students appealed to the Wits University Management not to allow this event due to the Wits SRC 2012 academic boycott of Israel resolution. When the Wits University Management failed to cancel the concert, which the university was within its right to do (as confirmed by Advocate Geoff Budlender in 2011) the students chose to protest the Israeli concert. The concert was subsequently protested and cancelled due to the protests and disruptions. The Israeli lobby then forced Wits University to punish the students. Professor Adam Habib has gone on record stating that Wits University has come under financial pressure from the Israeli lobby (http://tinyurl.com/puag339). SAUS wholly condemns the interference by members of the pro-Israeli community in academic matters and protests.
In 2011 SAUS together with the South African Students Congress (SASCO) urged “all SRCs, student groups and other youth structures to strategize and implement a boycott of Israel and its campaigns. We declare that all SA campuses must be Apartheid-Israel free zones…As with the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, international solidarity is key in overcoming Israeli Apartheid.” (http://tinyurl.com/acaorsu) The Wits University’s SRC resolution to boycott Israel has the backing of SAUS and we must defend the right of SRC and universities that adopt such resolutions.
SAUS stands firmly behind the “Wits 11” and will continue to assist these students as they go forward into appealing the decision of the university. SAUS further reiterates its commitment to the right to protest on our campuses and the right of all students to engage in various forms of political and social activism.