Cecil John Rhodes the scapegoat

The student protest at UCT was sparked by a claim of a lack of transformation at the university. The protest intensified with the call for the removal of the statue of CJ Rhodes as it is seen to be a symbol of the discrimination that students are raising over many years now. The issue of transformation at UCT has been on their agenda for many years, and the unhappiness of students and staff over the years is well known. And now we are told that the University of Cape Town Senate has voted overwhelmingly in favour of recommending to Council that the statue of Cecil John Rhodes be moved when Council holds its special sitting on Wednesday, 8 April 2015.The question remains, what about the lack of transformation at UCT.Does the UCT Senate expect the speedy removal of CJ Rhodes to somehow magically be replaced by a spontaneous outbreak of goodwill and transformation at the institution?Removing the statue of CJ Rhodes isn't addressing the urgent matter of lack of transformation. Removing the statue of CJ Rhodes won't Removing the statue of CJ Rhodes is a convenient escape from the real issue facing the management of UCT.Removing the statue of CJ Rhodes is a kneejerk reaction to the real challenge of transformation.Removing the statue of CJ Rhodes while failing to address the primary reason for the protest is an insult to the students who are calling for the end of discrimination against them.Removing the statue of CJ Rhodes is a convenient way to deflect the real issue by making the CJ Rhodes statue the scape goat, the reason for the lack of transformation at UCT.Let's hope the real issue for the lack of transformation will be addressed as speedily as the decision by UCT Senate to remove the statue of CJ Rhodes.