Professor Srila Roy resigned Friday as head of the Sociology Department at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg. Her resignation follows controversy over remarks she made on social media, which were described as “racist.”. Wits University is also considering suspending Professor Roy. A disciplinary process is underway.
Resignation Follows Social Media Post
The controversy began with a social media post on February 21. Professor Roy wrote, “South Africans have little ambition, are complacent and have a poor ethic.” She posted this in response to a discussion about foreign nationals at South African universities. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education had raised concerns about the 7.7% of foreign nationals at these institutions.
Roy deleted the post. However, the Parliamentary Committee, the South African Sociological Association (SASA), and Wits colleagues reacted quickly. Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie stated, “Discriminatory and degrading attitudes have no place in post-school education or in our society.”
University Condemns Remarks
The Wits University Sociology Department issued a statement condemning the remarks. “The Department of Sociology at Wits University condemns in the strongest manner the offensive, racist and indefensible tweet made,” the statement read. “The intensity of the responses to the tweet reflects the visceral pain it has caused, especially to Black South Africans.” The department stated it rejects the sentiment “outright and unconditionally.”
The statement emphasized the department’s values. These include care, collegiality, trust, respect, accountability, integrity, anti-racism, anti-sexism, and anti-classism. “The personal sentiments expressed in Professor Roy’s tweet stand in direct contrast to the values of the sociology department,” it said.
The department also rejected a perceived division between South Africans and “others (‘foreigners’).” It stated this “reproduces polarisation of our society.” The department reaffirmed its commitment to building an African University that promotes human flourishing. It also reasserted its rejection of racism, xenophobia, sexism, classism, and other forms of discrimination.
Academic Associations React
SASA stated Professor Roy’s remarks violated commitments to cooperation among those studying society. It said her comments brought the discipline, academia, and the country into disrepute. SASA noted Roy’s retraction. The association described it as lacking “genuine apology,” rigor, emotion, and cause. SASA viewed it as an attempt at face-saving. They stated it was “rightfully seen with contempt by the South African academic community and beyond.” The initial apology was also deleted.
Professor Roy was unavailable for comment. The university stated that due processes would be followed.