Dear CAS Supporter,
In 2005, the University of Cape Town's Centre for African Studies (CAS) consisted of four full time
faculty, two support staff, and a part time gallery curator (previously a full time academic position),
not to mention the presence of numerous visiting associates and the University of the Western Cape’s
Heritage Program. Student life in the Centre was inspired ‒ it always has been ‒ leading to brilliant
work, such as the postgraduate journal, postamble, but also to fun-loving and unpretentious student
and staff camaraderie. In 2006, we witnessed new, exciting potentials for CAS come into being
through its partnership with the Centre for Caribbean Thought at University of the West Indies and
Brown University’s Department of Africana Studies. What an amazing degree this consortium had
imagined and indeed made a reality.
However, while the Centre worked hard to create alliances and bring its vision into being, the
University of Cape Town and more specifically, the Faculty of Humanities, pushed its own agenda,
which as it has become clear today, does not include CAS. Despite Vice Chancellors and Presidents,
Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Deans signing on to the new project, the Centre has been downgraded
consistently. Today CAS consists of two full time faculty, one contract faculty, one support staff, and
well, it seems the gallery will soon be appropriated, no longer being a part of the Centre. The upper
level that used to host scholars from seemingly every corner of the world, is now occupied by
another department. And this year, the Centre will be “relocated” out of its own building. UCT’s
partnership with UWC under the Heritage Studies Program disintegrated years ago. Conveniently,
the University has not approved new hires or the establishment of new positions or even the filling of
old ones; the Faculty did not authorise a replacement position following Professor Brenda Cooper’s
departure. Rather, the Faculty has established a new rule that phases out departments consisting of
less than six full time faculty members.
The Centre has fought for its space for a long time and continues to do so, but the University is
determined to shut the department down, despite international recognition, academic successes and
financial buoyancy. As our enclosed statement details, Concerned CAS Students are in favor of
keeping the Centre for African Studies in existence at the University of Cape Town. We also demand
that the University and the Faculty of Humanities allow the Centre to flourish and not stymy its
immense potential.
With all this in mind, we hope you will consider articulating your support for the Centre by writing a
letter to Vice Chancellor Max Price: Max.Price@uct.ac.za and Humanities Faculty Dean Paula
Ensor: hum-dean@uct.ac.za. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please send your letter to
us: Concerned.CAS.Students@gmail.com.
Alternatively, you can copy and paste the following statement, emailing it to the above e-mail
address:
I support the Centre for African Studies at the University of Cape Town as an important and
valuable space for students and scholars. Moreover, I believe its intellectual project serves
as a crucial intervention in knowledge production of, about, with and in Africa.
Thank you for your time and support. We look forward to hearing from you.
Concerned CAS Students
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