The 1980s gave birth to the United Democratic Front, made up of religious bodies, civic associations, trade unions, student organisations, and sports bodies. The formation of the UDF was not planned, but organically took its form and was able to champion the struggle for freedom.

On 31 October 1980, draft laws were gazetted, which provided certain “benefits” for black people. These laws became known as the Koornhof bills or legislation.

Piet Koornhof, who incidentally completed his studies at Oxford University after being awarded a Rhodes scholarship, claimed that the proposed laws were the beginning of a process of normalising race relations in South Africa. Mr Koornhof’s doctoral dissertation focussed on the “inevitable urbanisation” of black people in Africa. Mr Koornhof would later go on to join the ANC and eventually was South Africa’s ambasssador to the USA.

In 1983 and 1984, the UDF launched the “one million signatures” campaign, in which signatories were asked to voice their opposition to the Koornhof legislation and the very notion of a tri-cameral Parliament. Importantly, the UDF was about the multitude, it was diverse both in composition but also in its views. The UDF went on to represent over 700 affiliates and three million members.

Transformation or change will always be a contentious issue. When we address (emotive) issues, around racism or race or the normative structures that exists in our society, we are often confronted by a very passionate, polarised and stubborn response. The response urges us to “just get over it”, to “draw a line on the issue” or to “focus on something more important”.

The #RhodesMustFall issue is not simply about a statue, but rather it is about the unchanging normative structure that many people continue to encounter. These issues are not simply about aesthetics or the location of those statues, but rather about the broader conversation.

UCT has for many years been having a debate about transformation, admissions and change. It is an issue that has been highly intellectualised, thought through and considered, but the status quo in many respects has been unwavering. In 2013, of 1,405 academics at UCT, only 48 were black, without a single “black African” South African woman holding a full professorship title.

I understand that these issues are emotional. I understand that change is slow. However, what I don’t understand is the stubborn commitment to the idea that there is nothing wrong with that picture. The normative structure of our society must change and we must address those issues in our workplaces, in our schools, in our universities, in our communities and also in our places of worship. This is not an issue that can be allowed to fester.

Transformation has always been a tricky subject and many, many people, including some UCT academics, have raised their concerns about the pace of change. However, the controversial actions of throwing faeces at the statue of Rhodes on #BlackMonday seemed to galvanise this conversation and direct the energy of students to take up this cause.

The conversation and protests have continued for the past three weeks in an organic way. This cannot simply be about Rhodes. It simply cannot be about whether Rhodes was a saint or a sinner, or even why we must be thankful for his ‘legacy’.

We have been urged by some to be calm, to sit down and to stop making a scene. Some students have even been threatened and vilified publically but they must hold steady. Students have been told that they should emulate the example of Tata Madiba, encouraging activists to adopt an approach of reconciliation, compromise and forgiveness. But this is about change; this is about confronting the normative culture and it is about young South Africans choosing to lead.

This is a unique opportunity for young South Africans to claim their rightful place in our discourse and to lead. The conversation is not being shaped by radio-jockeys, politicians or ‘thoughtleaders’, but it is organically being driven by the multitude. We can take some solace in that approach. The movement is far from perfect and the appearance of swastikas and photographs of Hitler on buildings at UCT are an example of this imperfection.

The advice about emulating the example of Tata Madiba forgets that he did tell us that “it is in our hands” now. The path ahead will not be simple, it will not be perfect; but it is incumbent on young South Africans to fearlessly embrace change and to champion a different way forward to tackle privilege, racism, prejudice, inequality and begin to build on our constitutional democracy like those who came before them.

Today, we have an opportunity to rekindle that spirit of what was possible in the 1980s by groups like the UDF. We are faced with what would seem an insurmountable challenge but we must remain committed to the idea that we can.

The movement at UCT may be imperfect, but it is an opportunity where young, old, black and white come together for the idea that change is indeed possible. This must always be more than just about a statue. DM