Foreword

Dear friends

Below you will find ‘A call for critical engagement – study document’.  187 people have endorsed this Call since Monday 17 October and we now distribute it as widely as possible. During the process of receiving endorsements technical problems resulted in the loss of certain names. We apologize to those affected and hope that you will resend your name.

This document should not be seen as conclusive but as an invitation to an ongoing conversation.

Since Monday some of the endorsers made critical and important contributions. In addition to what the Call currently articulates, we acknowledge that further attention should be given to the facts that

• the church is present on all campuses in the widest sense of the word – management, lecturers, workers, students and security staff – and we acknowledge our pastoral responsibility to care for everyone equally in a time of conflict, tension, polarization and uncertainty;
• the Call in its current format does not speak adequately and directly enough to government – calling it to provide leadership at a time such as this and to cease from fuelling further polarization.

We also realize that much of what is contained in this Call needs deeper collective reflection and the diverse insights of both those who have endorsed it and many others who did not yet have a chance. Therefore this is an invitation to go on deep journeys together in times to come.

Over the next days we would like to explore possible ways in which engagement can take concrete shape. Any suggestions or thoughts can be emailed to acallforcriticalengagement@gmail.com.

A Call for Critical Engagement – Study Document

We, a group of concerned theologians, working on South African University campuses that have become militarized by police and private security firms, as well as other concerned theologians, inspired by our heritage of prophetic engagement in public life and deeply concerned with the volatile conflict in our higher education landscape, hereunder articulate a call for critical engagement. It is arising from our on-going engagement with events unfolding on the ground during the current student protests, and being deeply challenged by the call from the #FeesMustFall movement for free, quality and decolonized education, ultimately envisioning a more humane society.

We acknowledge:

• With empathy, the deep pain, disappointment, anger and frustration of black students in particular, and all other students on campuses across our national landscape. This angst within our higher education landscape is symptomatic of the much deeper and festering woundedness of our people not adequately addressed with the dawn of the so-called rainbow nation in South Africa post 1994, until it has now burst open.

• That such pain, in particular black pain, disappointment, anger and frustration stem from unceasing systemic, economic and racist exclusion, perpetuating feelings of estrangement at institutions of higher learning, manifest in the lack of curriculum transformation, and the hierarchical institutional cultures at our Universities.
• That this woundedness further stems from the poor quality of basic education in the majority of public schools, leaving learners often unprepared for post-school academic engagement
• That the above are expressions of systemic violence and injustice, further perpetuated during the #FeesMustFall protests by the militarization of campuses; the often one-sided, misleading and  untruthful reporting by the media and official communiqués of Universities; and the victimization of protesting students and academics and those showing solidarity with them  
• That human beings are physical, emotional, rational and spiritual beings and when existential conditions are unbearable with social exclusion a daily and systemic occurrence, it is inevitable that emotive responses will spill over to the extent that we have seen in recent weeks.

We mourn:

• The growing arrogance of those in positions of governance – government, universities, private sector and even the church  in response to this pain

• That it is usually those in positions of power who demand ‘rational’ engagement unilaterally determining the rules of engagement, whilst they themselves close most doors for honest, inclusive, robust engagement, arising from below.
• The commodification of education from basic to tertiary level. Only those with resources can afford to ‘buy’ good, quality education whilst others are forced to put up with poor quality education that prevents  them from developing their full potential.
• The bureaucratization of universities in South Africa, coupled with hierarchical institutional cultures, that prohibits and punishes dissenting voices instead of inviting and hosting spaces for critical intellectual debate.

• The way in which some of our South African institutions seem to be more concerned about their position in international rankings than to contribute to the socio-economic-political transformation of deeply unequal South African communities.

• The lack of decolonization at our institutions in relation to curricula, course content, pedagogical methodologies, and institutional culture.

We confess:

• Our own complicity as drafters and endorsers of this call to engage, for our silence in the unfolding events
• The inadequate responses from Faculties and Schools of Theology and Religion, which show complicity in perpetuating the status quo, in silencing voices of dissent and frustration, in failing to create consistent and sustainable spaces for difficult conversations that could start to deal with our collective woundedness and anger, and in opening up possibilities for deeper, mutual and multiple transformations

• Our inadequate witness to our rich tradition of robust theological engagement –reading the signs of the times, exposing  the wrongs of the day and articulating the Biblical demands for justice without which lasting peace and reconciliation are but pipe-dreams:

• our theological language can sometimes be used to white-wash wrongs and to override concerns of justice with a false call for decency.
• we have too often concentrated on reconciliation without demanding or doing justice, thereby ‘wasting’ the grace of our peaceful transition in 1994
• white ecclesial power still seems to dominate in some of our Faculties and Schools of Theology and Religion.
• we have often not lived up to the Biblical demand for restitution where we have wronged others, and commit ourselves anew to lives of reconciling justice

We affirm:

• That the events unfolding on our campuses are symptomatic of a nation ‘at war’ with itself – growing inequality, black  pain and institutionalized racism, unbridled greed, public plunder, and compromised leadership, all colluded to create a national crisis
• That the events unfolding on our campuses are symptomatic of a deeper battle for the soul of the university, questioning the very nature of our institutions of higher learning.
• The courageous students who articulated, in words and actions, the pain we would not see; the anger we dared not confront; the inequalities too ghastly to contemplate – we need to hear their voices, see their actions and respond!
• The civil society organizations, including churches, church leaders and Christians who in these times have stood in the gap as witnesses to peace, observers, mediators and prophets. Now is the time for us to rethink, re-imagine and re-assert our roles as theologians and Faculties and Schools of Theology and Religion within the context of a deepening crisis in Higher Education in South Africa.        

Instead of condemning students’ reactions as merely emotional reactions of anger and frustration, it is time to listen and engage – we have been deeply moved by the rigorous and reflective way in which students engage each other, debating the issues at hand both rationally and emotionally, constructing visions and strategies together, expressing their deep humanity whilst refusing to be dehumanized or prescribed to by others coming from positions of aloofness and privilege.

Therefore we commit ourselves

• to deeply listen to and collaborate with one another  as we seek to build a new society
• to initiate honest new conversations as theologians and churches to confront the ways in which we have maintained old vestiges of power without sufficiently decolonizing our institutional cultures and curricula

• as whites, to embrace the grace afforded to us in the 1994 settlement in South Africa,
• as those who are privileged with money, institutional positions, intellectual knowledge, or practical skills, to be good and responsible stewards of our resources, given to us to share in ways that will be redistributive and restorative
• as those of us who are poor, or excluded because of gender, sexual orientation or disability, to reclaim our God-given dignity and  assert our inherited wealth simply by virtue of being born; to  confess the ways in which we have seen ourselves, and allowed others to see us, as subordinates or sub-humans; to bring to bear our wealth of experience, knowledge and life resources on  situations demanding transformation and freedom, both in our own communities but also in the national landscape
• as those of us who are in positions of institutional power, to embrace a servant posture.  

 Therefore we plead for the following:

• That University managements immediately demilitarize  campuses  since it violates the humanity and rights of all who share these spaces: it is not conducive for the vocation of academics to teach, do research and community engagement,  or perform administrative tasks; it is not conducive for an optimal learning environment and the success of students; it contributes  to the escalation of violence and traumatizes the public exposed to it
• That, whilst we respect and support the right to protest and acknowledge the deep anger and pain of students engaging in it, students desist from any actions that might jeopardize what we regard as their noble vision for more just and inclusive universities, and indeed, a more humane and just society
• That churches, church leaders, people of different faiths, civil society groups, and those belonging to university communities, will continue to provide sanctuary and counselling to traumatized students, engage with them in prayer vigils and do theological reflection to discern the signs of the times, to reflect on appropriate strategies to sustain the quest for freedom, to collaborate in building a society of peace with justice, and to find ways for supporting the pursuit of the #FeesMustFall movement    
• That black and white students and academics will do all they can to listen to each other and to enter each other’s worlds, allowing for processes of mutual liberation and healing.
• That the challenge to decommodify and decolonize education, for the sake of our collective humanization, will be made a priority, reclaiming education as a public good, or a commons, to be shared by everyone
•  That we, from all sides, will do everything we can, to open up spaces of deep engagement, and honest conversation, with the possibility of discovering ways in which we can co-author a new story for our universities and our nation.

In humility we pose these questions of invitation for on-going dialogue and reflective engagement:

• What should the role of theologians at (public) universities in South Africa be today, particularly in relation to the call for quality education that will be free, decommodified, and decolonized?

• How could theologians and churches contribute to the reclamation of education as a commons, to be shared in the interest of the public good?

• What can theologians and churches learn from, or how could we participate in or support, the #FeesMustFall movement – and similar movements for justice – rising up across the national landscape?    

Endorsement:

The following people endorsed this document in their individual capacity: 

1. Mervyn Abrahams, Pietermaritzburg Agency for Community Social Action (PACSA)
2. Melany Adonis, College of Transfiguration Grahamstown
3. Ghislain Agbede, Francophone University of International Development
4. Benjamin Aldous, St John’s Wynberg, University of Stellenbosch
5. Valerie Anderson, The Justice Conference South Africa
6. Noelene Arends, All Saints Anglican Church
7. Roger Arendse, Director at EagleCoaching
8. Edwin Arrison, Kairos Southern Africa
9. René August,  The Warehouse,  SACLI,  Restitution Foundation
10. Garth Aziz, University of South Africa
11. Eugene Baron, University of South Africa
12. Zuze Banda, University of South Africa
13. Tracy Bell, Anglican Parish of Prestbury
14. S'duduzo Blose, Seventh day Adventist Church, University of KwaZulu-Natal
15. Allan Boesak, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana
16. Annemie Bosch, Dutch Reformed Church
17. Jaco Botha, Stellenbosch University, Dutch Reformed Church
18. Nico A Botha, University of South Africa
19. Nadine Bowers-Du Toit, Stellenbosch University
20. Nigel Branken, Neighbours, Hillbrow
21. Sue Brittion, Anglican Diocese of Natal, Parish of Pinetown
22. Mark Butler
23. Felipe Gustavo Koch Buttelli, University of KwaZulu-Natal
24. Ntozakhe Cezula, Stellenbosch University
25. Juliana Claassens, Stellenbosch University
26. Stephan de Beer, University of Pretoria
27. Wilna de Beer, Tshwane Leadership Foundation
28. John W. de Gruchy, University of Cape Town
29. Jana de Lange, Dutch Reformed Church Universiteitsoord
30. Gino De Peers
31. Rudolph de Villiers, University of Pretoria, Dutch Reformed Church
32. Fouché de Wet, University of Pretoria, Dutch Reformed Church
33. Khegan Delport, Stellenbosch University
34. Philani Dlamini, Methodist Church
35. Nozipho P. S Dlodlo, University of Kwazulu Natal
36. Joseph Duggan, Borderless Press and Postcolonial Networks
37. Wayne Eaves, The Warehouse Trust, University of Pretoria
38. Helen Efthimiadis-Keith, University of KwaZulu-Natal
39. Kolade Fadahunsi, Kairos Foundation of Nigeria
40. Dion Forster, Stellenbosch University
41. Willem Fourie, University of Pretoria
42. Maria Frahm-Arp, University of Johannesburg
43. Laurie Gaum, Centre for Christian Spirituality
44. Daniela Gennrich, University of KwaZulu-Natal
45. Allen Goddard, University of KwaZulu-Natal
46. Martha Gordon, St Michael’s Anglican Church, Bryanston, Johannesburg
47. Brenda Govender
48. Lisa Grassow, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Methodist Church
49. Alphonso Groenewald, University of Pretoria
50. Sibusiso Gwala, Pirie Mission
51. Beverley Haddad, University of KwaZulu-Natal
52. Vernon Hammond, St Mary's Greyville
53. Deborah Hancox, Stellenbosch University
54. Elina Hankela, Research Associate, YOMA Research Project
55. Melissa Hansen, University of the Free State
56. Richard Holloway, Dutch Reformed Church
57. Theo Human, Dutch Reformed Church Pinetown
58. Morgan Jacobs, Seth Mokitimi ‎Methodist Seminary
59. Johan Janse van Rensburg, Dutch Reformed Church Maclear & Ugie
60. Kirsten Jeffery, Nazarene Theological College
61. Nicole Joshua, The Warehouse, University of Pretoria
62. D. H. Kajom, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria
63. Chammah J Kaunda, University of South Africa
64. Vicentia Kgabe, College of Transfiguration
65. Sphiwe Khumalo, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
66. Ben Khumalo-Seegelken, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany
67. Ubbo Khumalo-Seegelken
68. Teboho G. Klaas, Robinson Temple AME Church
69. Mirirayi Knowledge, University of KwaZulu-Natal
70. Lerato Kobe, University of Pretoria
71. Brian E. Konkol, Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota, USA
72. JNJ (Klippies) Kritzinger, University of South Africa
73. Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe, St Augustine College, Metropolitan Community Churches (correction)
74. Joel Kuvuna, University of KwaZulu-Natal
75. Mercio Langa, Anglican Social Action
76. Clint Le Bruyns, University of KwaZulu-Natal
77. Maikeleng Ledimo, University of Pretoria
78. De la Harpe le Roux, Dutch Reformed Church, Bloemfontein
79. Tshepo Lephakga, University of South Africa
80. Sidney Luckett, Anglican Church
81. Joe Lüdemann, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, ELCSA
82. Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch University
83. Paledi P Magopa, Center For Civic and Democracy Education
84. Sipho Mahokoto, Stellenbosch University
85. Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Church of Southern Africa
86. Moganetsi Makulubele, University of Pretoria
87. Nadia Marais, Stellenbosch University
88. Francis Marimbe, University of KwaZulu-Natal
89. Rachel Mash, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Environmental Network
90. Henry Mbaya, Stellenbosch University
91. Mike McCoy, Theological Education by Extension College
92. Duncan McLea - St John’s Parish Wynberg
93. Siyabonga Mdluli, St Augustine Umlazi
94. Richard Mee, Muizenberg and Tokai Methodist Church
95. Dave Meldrum, St Peter’s Church, Mowbray
96. Wilhelm H. Meyer, University of KwaZulu-Natal
97. Jacob Meiring, University of Pretoria
98. Kamogelo Modisane - Lutheran Theological institute
99. Leepo Modise, University of South Africa
100. Zack Mokgoebo
101. Wendy Mollink, St George's Anglican Church Parktown
102. Marthie Momberg, Stellenbosch University
103. Lois Moyo, Lutheran Church
104. Lungile Mpetsheni, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, University of Pretoria
105. Nina Müller van Velden, Stellenbosch University
106. Seth Naicker, Indiafrique, Bethel Sanctuary
107. Joey Naika, Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary
108. Thulani Ndlazi, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, South Africa Synod
109. Gabriel E. Nduye, University of KwaZulu- Natal
110. Reggie Nel, University of South Africa
111. Damazio Ngoma, University of KwaZulu-Natal
112. Abraham J. Niehaus, University of KwaZulu-Natal
113. Jana Niehaus, Izwe Lethu, Durban
114. Elaine Nogueira-Godsey, University of Johannesburg
115. Dikgang Kgosi Moseneke Jr. - Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary
116. Ntuthuko Nkosi - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
117. Lillian Notayi, Stellenbosch University
118. Ezekiel Ntakirutimana, University of Pretoria
119. Jacob Nthakhe, University of South Africa
120. Siyabonga Ntombela, Methodist Church of Southern Africa, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
121. Selina Palm, Rondebosch United Church
122. Cheryl Pearce
123. Trevor Pearce, Anglican Church, Growing the Church
124. Walter Philander, Stellenbosch University, URCSA
125. Graham Philpott, Church Land Programme
126. Rubin Phillip, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Diocese of Natal
127. Stephen Phiri, University of KwaZulu-Natal
128. Miranda Pillay, University of the Western Cape
129. Sakkie Potgieter, Uniting Reformed Church Carnarvon
130. Caroline Powell, The Warehouse Trust & University of Pretoria
131. Tristan Pringle, University of Pretoria

132. Jane Quin, University of KwaZulu- Natal

133. Duduzile Radebe, Pietermaritzburg Agency for Community Social Action

134. Wayne Renkin, University of Pretoria
135. Michael Ribbens, Institute for Urban Ministry
136. Ryan Saville, Jubilee Community Church
137. J.D.F. (Deon) Scharneck, URCSA Beaufort West-East
138. Wesley Seale, Rhodes University
139. Heidi Segal
140. Earl September
141. Laura Singh,  University of Pretoria
142. Mathews GJ. Shabele, Lutheran Theological Institute
143. Michelle Shrader Central Methodist Mission, Cape Town
144. Xolile Simon, University of Stellenbosch
145. Johannes A. Smit, University of KwaZulu-Natal
146. Tom Smith, Rhythm of Life
147. Gerrie Snyman, University of South Africa
148. Rob Stegmann, Stellenbosch University
149. Craig Stewart, The Warehouse
150. Alan Storey - Central Methodist Mission - Cape Town
151. Gavin Taylor – Methodist Church
152. NK Tenai, North-West University
153. Christo Thesnaar, Stellenbosch University
154. Janet Trisk, St Alphege's Anglican Church
155. Rothney Tshaka, University of South Africa
156. Sandeep Theophil, University of KwaZulu-Natal
157. Christi Thirion, Dutch Reformed Church Kendridge
158. Luthando Tofu, Christ Legacy Centre, University of Pretoria
159. Loraine Tulleken
160. Calvin Ullrich, Stellenbosch University
161. Jakub Urbaniak, University of the Free State, St Augustine College
162. EAJG van der Borght, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
163. Carusta van der Merwe
164. Johan A. van der Merwe, Dutch Reformed Church George
165. Stiaan Van Der Merwe
166. Louis van der Riet, Stellenbosch University
167. Hendrien van Vliet, Dutch Reformed Church Pretoria
168. Michael Van Niekerk, University of South Africa
169. Cobus van Wyngaard, University of South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Pretoria
170. Ashley Visagie, Bottomup Social Development, Invia Gemeente
171. Johannes N. Vorster, University of South Africa
172. Robert Vosloo, Stellenbosch University
173. Nastasia Vosloo, University of Pretoria
174. Vuyani Vellem, University of Pretoria
175. Paul Verryn, Methodist Church
176. Mike Vorster, Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Natal Coastal District
177. RS Wafula, Borderless Press and Postcolonial Networks
178. Andrew Warmback, St Pauls Anglican Church, Durban
179. Shantelle Weber, Stellenbosch University
180. Michael Weeder, St George's Anglican Cathedral, Cape Town
181. David West,
182. Gerald West, University of KwaZulu-Natal
183. Jeremy G. Wyngaard, Stellenbosch University
184. Sandisele L Xhinti, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, University of Pretoria
185. Londiwe Xulu, Methodist Church of Southern Africa
186. Gosnell L. Yorke, University of South Africa
187. Goodwin L D Zainga, Churches of Christ in Malawi
188. Skhumbuzo Zuma, Church Land Programme