Johannesburg – South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday expressed outrage at reports that first year students at a South African university recently staged a Nazi-style salute during induction.
“We were shocked by the reports on orientation activities at the North West University involving students doing the Nazi-style fascist salute,” he said in a speech delivered to students at the university.
“Such practices are unacceptable,” he said addressing a meeting organised by his ruling African National Congress party in the run-up to May 7 general elections.
Reports highlight that students at one of the campuses of the North West University had performed the Nazi-style “Sieg Heil” salute during a supposed orientation ceremony,
Students dressed in black t shirts and navy blue shorts were seen singing and dancing on a You Tube video.
“The use of gestures associated with Nazism are shunned upon throughout the world and are relics of a time which symbolised oppression, persecution and some of the worst atrocities committed in human history,” said Zuma.
Zuma said his government “takes this matter seriously and will not tolerate any unconstitutional activities that are perpetrated at any education andtraining institution”.
South Africa`s Higher Education ministry is conducting investigation and university authorities have apologised for any offence caused by the images but denied it was a Nazi salute.
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