Academic leadership and responsibility for words

Bhoola is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Zululand, and director at StellarMaths (Sunningdale).

- DR SHEETAL BHOOLA

FORMER WITS University Head of Sociology, Professor Srila Roy's stance, as a representative of the Indian and global academic fraternity, is indeed harmful and disappointing, says the writer. I Wits

“SOUTH Africans have little ambition, are complacent and have poor work ethic.” These were the words Wits University’s Head of Sociology, Professor Srila Roy, posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account, which has now led to her resignation.

The Department of Sociology confirmed Roy’s resignation from her role as head of department in a statement on February 26.

Within the realms of striving towards social cohesion in South Africa, and amidst global politics, it is rather hostile for Roy to publicly air such a perception, especially since she is of Indian origin and not a South African.

Her behaviour does not align with sociological world views, the interdependencies and connectivity of peoples, societies and cultures which we can all relate to now on a global scale. Her academic background should have been her guide in fully comprehending the descriptive words she chose to air her differences or frustrations with her fellow South Africans.

Roy’s actions show that she was oblivious to the repercussions of behaviour that stems from xenophobia and ethnic and racial discrimination. Furthermore, as the head of the Department of Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand, her stance also indicates the possibility of continual ethnic and racial discrimination in democratic South Africa.