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Daily Maverick
12 hours ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Du Toit verdict highlights the persistent shadow of apartheid in SA's universities
Three years after the barbaric incident at Stellenbosch University where a white student, Theuns du Toit, urinated on a black student's study material, a court has acquitted him of criminal charges. A legally sound outcome according to the courts of law, but in the court of public opinion one that fails to address the collective pain Du Toit's actions evoked among many students who have been on the receiving end of humiliating acts because of the colour of their skin. In an opinion piece I wrote at the time of this incident, I referred to 'the outrage sparked by Du Toit's barbaric act', and the pain and trauma 'that his actions triggered among many black and brown students'. For many of these students, Du Toit's entering Babalo Ndwayana's room and urinating on his study material was not just a despicable act by an intoxicated student. The act carried the burden of history and became an echo of the violence of apartheid's dehumanising treatment. It is also a reminder of their own collective experiences of the insidious violence of racial humiliation and marginalisation that they have encountered in lecture halls and administrative offices, in residences, and in the wider Stellenbosch, as recounted in testimonies to the commission of inquiry that was chaired by Justice Sisi Khampepe. The State may not have been able to prove that Du Toit acted with criminal intent when he went into Ndwayana's room. But the impact of his vulgar act exposed the ever-present tension between progress — the moral and psychological possibility of change — and the historical burden and the sheer reality of the legacies of an apartheid past that intrudes into this progress, pushing back against change. What has become increasingly clear is that this case, in the public imagination, is no longer just about one student's intoxicated behaviour or another student's quest for recognition. Proxies Du Toit and Ndwayana have come to represent more than themselves. They are proxies for a deeper, unresolved confrontation between our country's apartheid past and its unfulfilled democratic promise. The national outrage and political polarisation that erupted after Du Toit's acquittal attests to this. For many historically marginalised students — at Stellenbosch University (SU) and elsewhere — Du Toit urinating on Ndwayana's study material became an embodied symbol of the enduring indignities that echo from apartheid and persist in their everyday encounters, the subtle, insidious acts of exclusion and humiliation that undermine their dignity and sense of worth. Du Toit, in turn, has become a rallying figure, his story a cause célèbre for those who feel that transformation has gone 'too far', or that white identity, especially Afrikaner identity, is under threat and must be defended at all costs. It is tempting, in moments like these, to reduce the complexity of this moment into a single narrative as a problem of 'racism at SU'. That was the framing offered by Makhi Feni, chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, in his remarks about the Du Toit verdict in Parliament last week, that 'racism at Stellenbosch University' should be 'pinned on old white lecturers'. He went further to dismiss the urination incident as nothing more than 'a clear case of drunkenness and misbehaving youth'. For a senior government official in higher education, these remarks are not only irresponsible; they reflect a denial of the depth of institutional transformation work still needed across our universities, including the role his own department must play in supporting these efforts. Dismissing this merely as the recklessness of an intoxicated student is a negation of the experiences of those for whom Du Toit's actions evoked long-silenced memories of insidious acts of violence against their dignity — and of the serious work that Stellenbosch University has already undertaken in trying to confront its past. Enduring challenges The findings of the Khampepe Commission testify to this. Playing the alcohol card will not resolve the enduring challenges we face in our efforts to address the wounds of history that erupt on our university campuses. There is a moment in the recording that Ndwayana made of the urination incident where Du Toit refers to him as 'boy'. According to his lawyer, Dirk van Niekerk, Du Toit cannot be held responsible for what he said or did. 'My client was intoxicated,' he reportedly explained in statements in the media, and furthermore, that in passing its verdict, the court 'understood the situation very well regarding his intoxication'. But even though Du Toit's calling Ndwayana 'boy' in the recording was rendered inconsequential in a court of law, used as a form of address, the word in this context is an echo of the historical violence of apartheid when black men were infantilised as a way of asserting white superiority. It should thus not be glossed over simply as a reflection of youthful intoxication. Of course, I am not suggesting that Du Toit's use of the term 'proves' racist intent — the court has already ruled on this issue. Rather, as a term that carries the burden of historical resonance, the word is part of apartheid's lexicon of social domination. Du Toit's use of the term points to the enduring legacy of what I refer to as the psychic violence of the apartheid mind. Many students saw themselves in Ndwayana. While the legal slate has been wiped clean for Du Toit, the collective trauma and outrage his actions triggered remain unresolved, silenced and pushed underground, but will continue to play out in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, as with all historical traumas. The public debate about this issue is now dominated by the narrative of Du Toit's legal victory. The story of how all of this is affecting Ndwayana, and how he, and others who identify with his experience, are holding up in the face of it all has been overshadowed by the looming spectre of Du Toit's civil claim. As Judith Butler has argued, whose voices are allowed to shape public discourse tells us something fundamental about whose lives are considered valuable. As we brace for the possibility of a civil suit from Du Toit's lawyers, Stellenbosch University would do well to resist the temptation to settle behind closed doors in the name of reputational damage control. Doing so would not only silence the public debate that must continue about the emergence of these problems in our institutions, but also risk reinforcing the very dynamics that perpetuate the fault lines that keep confronting us with the unfinished business of our past, which will remain unresolved unless we face this history and its 'afterlife' with moral courage. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, for all its flaws, offers insights that show the possibility of creating a space for acknowledgement, truth telling, and moral accountability, the kind of reckoning that law alone cannot deliver. DM
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
‘Justice not served': Family outraged as student who urinated on Babalo Ndwayana's belongings walks free
The family of Babalo Ndwayana has expressed deep disappointment after the acquittal of former Stellenbosch University student Theuns du Toit, who was caught on video urinating on Ndwayana's belongings in a university residence in 2022. Du Toit was cleared this week of charges of crimen injuria and malicious damage to property, bringing a three-year legal process to a controversial close. The Stellenbosch magistrate's court found there was insufficient grounds to convict him. The incident, which went viral on social media at the time, drew national outrage and sparked renewed debate on racism and privilege in South African institutions. Ndwayana's father Mkuseli Kaduka, told TimesLIVE the family was devastated by the Stellenbosch magistrate's court's decision. 'Babalo and myself are both disappointed and devastated by the outcome of the case. Justice was by no means served at all,' said Kaduka. Stellenbosch University said it considered the process fair and closed. Meanwhile the SU convocation lamented the damage caused by the case to the university's reputation and called for an apology to Du Toit.
Cosmopolitan
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
All the Kai Cenat 2025 Streamer University Controversy, Explained
It was nothing if not ambitious. Last weekend, Kai Cenat, one of the world's top Twitch streamers, took over a college campus in Akron to host 'Streamer University,' a four-day program that drew 120 students and 17 professors. All food/lodging expenses were covered by Kai, and each student was gifted a T-Mobile phone from which they could livestream their entire experience. Like real school, students could partake in semi-serious classes to prime themselves for virality (like 'Monetization for Dummies' and 'Defense Against Hating'). Also like real school, there was real drama, which is inevitable when you put a large number of young people in close quarters for an extended period of time (see: Love Island, any season). But unlike real college, the Streamer University students were fame-hungry and surveilled by hundreds of thousands of Twitch users 24/7. Thanks to that, we got a handful of meme-worthy moments, plus highly entertaining evidence that the creator economy is alive and well. So alive and well, in fact, that these participants were willing to commit to 96 hours of live-streamed dormitory life to succeed within it. Plus, the University of Akron was willing to loan their campus to a 23-year-old Twitch star to host this action. 'Our team is committed to helping the greater Akron community and beyond take advantage of all UA has to offer by hosting successful events on our campus,' said Brandon Alexander, the University of Akron's director of conference and events services. 'As we establish campus as an incredible option for large-scale conferences, it only serves to benefit the region.' Now you may ask–who had the time to keep up with a round-the-clock production like Streamer University? And I have the same question. But I've made it my mission to figure out exactly how this whole Kai Cenat fest went down. So let's run back the most notable moments that transpired at the most-discussed fake college around. From a viewership standpoint, SU was a success. According to Cenat's team, it garnered over 23 million total hours watched. The most-viewed participants included Kai (obviously), his Twitch stream regular/right-hand man, Ray, and the influencer India Love, who you might remember from her popular presence on Tumblr in the early 2010s. (We love cross-platform success.) In potentially less exciting news, the university's top-viewed channel belonged to 'professor' DDG, who was also named the weekend's MVP. Earlier this month, DDG's ex, Halle Bailey, received a temporary restraining order against DDG, alleging abuse, so the decision to name him SU's MVP was a divisive one. Kai made the initial call for Streamer University applicants earlier this month via a very Harry Potter-inspired trailer. We were finally able to meet the inaugural class of 120 creators selected during an hour-long meet-and-greet video, which you can watch on YouTube (should you have time to spare). Here's a rundown of the weekend's top ten performers: Is the route to online success predictable enough to build a curriculum around? The school's class offerings would indicate that. Students could take courses taught by 'professors' (aka popular influencers like Duke Dennis and cookingwithkya) on the following need-to-know influencing concepts: SU was not without its hiccups. Before classes kicked off, controversy began to brew about admissions. The streamer Malik Richh hopped online to accuse Kai of favoritism, saying that he had a bias for close friends and established creators during the student selection process. Some of the program's female participants were also subject to misogynistic claims from social media commentators, insinuating that their admission was based on looks alone. Despite that noise, SU was truly a win for the girls involved, with streamers like Primate Paige and Daejorno sharing their accounts' significant growth after the program. Throughout the weekend, physical altercations also arose, a dorm room was trashed, and one student was even sent to the hospital after getting injured during a water gun battle. In another highly-discussed moment, Drake's number was leaked during a livestreamed FaceTime call with one of the students, Tylil. He revealed the rapper's number to his audience by turning his phone toward the camera, which Drake took fairly well, telling him, 'You definitely leaked my number. Don't worry, I can get a new number tomorrow. It's a blessing in disguise anyway.' The rapper also sent in a congratulations message for graduates, which was shown during the commencement ceremony. So that's what you missed on Glee. It's unlikely that everyone who's graduated from Streamer University can or will replicate Kai's unique success. This man has had stars like Tyla, SZA, Benny Blanco, and Kevin Hart join his streams and has (inadvertently) caused a full-blown riot on the streets of New York City. But if anything, the fanfare and intrigue around this past weekend's livestreamed programming is pretty indicative that we've entered a new chapter of online influencing. One in which authentic, no-holds-barred access to creators might take precedence over carefully edited content. Kai implied that platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime were interested in buying the streaming rights for "Streamer University," but justified his decision to keep the operation independent on Twitch, with a strong message for creators. During a post-university stream, he said: "With an idea like this original, you gotta keep it where it's at. I want y'all to learn something, bro. [Your] channels, and who you are as a person… This [your] idea, this is [your] stuff. Treat your platform as you would treat other platforms."
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
10 Moments from Kai Cenat's Streamer University That Caused Major Community Backlash
Image via: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Kai Cenat's Streamer University was a vision of a revolutionary leap in democratizing content creation—a four-day campus retreat in Akron, Ohio, gathering up and coming streamers and internet titans. It had 17 professors, 120 students, and an audacious curriculum that mixed entertainment, business, and it was almost guaranteed to become a beacon in the influencer universe. Instead, it turned into a lightning rod for controversy. Below are 10 events that stoked the flames. 1. Favoritism in Student Selection Even though SU marketed the program as a platform for "undiscovered talent," numerous students selected by SU were already celebrity minors within Cenat's universe. His critics accused him of nepotism, citing the likes of Rakai (referred to as Cenat's "son") and Young Dabo. The selection process seemed more like a PR stunt than a fair-opportunity platform. Streamer University Award Ceremony! 2. The Viral Rejection Call One of the most widely discussed clips was Young Dabo being prank-called during a haircut, where a fake SU representative informed him he was being expelled for being "ugly as sh**." Though meant as humor, the clip came under fire for condoning bullying in the name of content. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo 3. Zoe Spencer 's Tearful Livestream Zoe Spencer, a Twitch streamer who was SU rejected, cried on a livestream claiming discrimination. Her rejection, she claimed, was a personal one and not based on her streaming experience. She succeeded in appealing to the hearts of fans and creating a broader conversation about gatekeeping within the content creation space. 4. SoLLUMINATI vs. Zoe Spencer Feud YouTuber SoLLUMINATI fanned tensions anew by publicly accusing Zoe of rejection and emasculating male streamers. Zoe's counterevent, which was littered with personal insults and slurs, fueled the controversy and branded SU as a drama factory and not a place of mentorship. Streamer University First Day Orientiation! 5. S*x Education as Curriculum Cenat's addition of "s*x education" as a course made people raise an eyebrow. Critics didn't know if it was to be treated as a joke or a genuine push towards progressive education. Either way, most believed it crossed the line between edutainment and sensationalism. 6. Ridiculous Application Questions Applications needed responses to ridiculous queries such as "Can you bite your elbow?"—making the process a circus. Many would-be creators felt demeaned by the nonchalance of the enrollment process. 7. Scamming Allegations A few online critics called SU a "scam," thinking the program was more about Cenat building his brand rather than nurturing new talent. But Cenat made it clear that none has to pay. Reviewing Every Streamer University Application! 8. Public Meltdown on Stream Amid growing criticism, Cenat vented on Twitch: 'I'm never doing this sh** again.' His frustration has created backlash in the community. 9. Gatekeeping by AMP Members Because many SU professors used to be part of Cenat's AMP collective, fans are targeting this issue to create backlash as well. 10. Suddenly Cancelled Upcoming Courses Cenat announced after the scandal that SU would not return due to financial struggles and criticism. To many, it represented the uphill battle of trying to create something new in a community that is quick to criticize but slow to believe. Kai Cenat's Streamer University is Terrible Streamer University was a high-concept project with commendable goals but imperfect execution. In attempting to combine entertainment and mentorship, Kai Cenat revealed both the potential and profound fault lines in the creator economy. Whether SU comes back or not, its conversation starter regarding access, accountability, and authenticity in online spaces has only just begun. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Optional or essential? Does having female ADs in a film team make a difference?
Sruthi, who worked as an assistant director in Thangalaan (her first film as an AD), points out, 'My efforts would be recognised by most of the crew only if I put in double the effort as a male AD. When Dragon director Ashwath Marimuthu shared the list of assistant directors he had roped in for his upcoming films, it sparked a debate, as the list had no names of women. He quickly cleared the air that merit — not gender — guided his choices. But then the question is, is every director's room supposed to have at least one female AD? Until Chithha , SU Arun Kumar 's direction team was an all male crew. However, he felt it was essential to have women ADs when he began to work on Chithha 's script. 'But I don't hire someone just because they are a woman,' asserts Arun. He ropes in ADs based on their interest, talent, and the rapport they share. 'A FEMALE AD IN THE TEAM REPRESENTS THE PERSPECTIVE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE' 'Building a safer space is our duty,' Arun explains. 'My entire film was shot at night, but all of my female ADs felt safe enough,' he shares. A practice that directors adopt to ensure women feel comfortable is to have more women on the sets. When Arun decided to hire female ADs, he wanted two of them so that they would have company. Halitha Shameem shares that having a female AD brings in an added perspective to discussions. 'When a woman speaks up, not all directors understand that 'she' represents the perspective of a lot of people. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Egypt: New Small Electric Car For Seniors. Prices Might Surprise You. Electric Cars | Search Ads Undo That said, the common belief that just because there is a female in a team, they will point out the political correctness is not entirely right. Even women can be politically wrong. Irrespective of gender, it's all about how much we unlearn and evolve.' 'SUCCESS OF FEMALE DIRECTORS MATTERS' Following this controversy, Aarti Sivakumar, who has been juggling different hats in the industry for 25 years, has launched an email initiative for women aspiring to get into cinema. In the past 25 years, the big change women have is accessibility, she says. 'We are still crawling, but the crawling is on a little stronger feet. And when we have an even higher success rate from female directors, we are going to make a difference. ' 'THE STRUGGLE IS UNIVERSAL FOR WOMEN IN FILMS' Sruthi, who worked as an assistant director in Thangalaan (her first film as an AD), points out, 'My efforts would be recognised by most of the crew only if I put in double the effort as a male AD. Since I work in mainstream films, my physical strength is equally important. I have read interviews of many female directors in foreign countries and I have come to realise that these struggles are universal.' 'CONTRIBUTION & CONFIDENCE CAN CONVINCE YOUR TEAM' Director Madhumita of KD fame recalls that it took three to four days for the unit to listen to her when she made her directorial debut with Vallamai Tharayo in 2008. 'I was the captain of the ship, but it took me four days to convince them that I knew what I was doing. When women in my team face the same today, I tell them to just do what they are meant to do on set — to contribute — and stay confident.' Meanwhile, Sruthi shares that people constantly ask if she'd stop working after marriage. 'This is not something male ADs would face,' she states. Written By: Harshini SV Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
