#ULShutdown: ‘I was carrying Malan’ mockery

The #FeesMustFallReloaded movement has been a mostly sad and tragic event that has lead to the shutdown of universities across South Africa.

The University of Cape Town, Fort Hare and University of Limpopo (UL) are among some of the institutions that were forced to close shop after student protest turned violent.

But true to the South African culture of finding humour in bad situations, an interview with one student at the University of Limpopo has lead to a mini #Malana trend on Facebook and has attracted attention from comedian Mashabela Galane.

“Malana” which is the Pedi name for (mostly chicken or cow) intestines/innards. It is a popular “economic” dish and a favourite in many parts of South Africa.

It is also sold at “Gate 2” of the University of Limpopo, which is were most of the protests took place, and where eNCA's Nickolaus Bauer found the young man and grabbed him for a quick “411” of the situation.

A few students form the university reposted the interview on social media, mocking the accent and “silent A” in the student's pronunciation of “Malana”.

Mashabela also called out the student for his behaviour, asking “How are you buying “Malana” in the mist of hectic strikes?”

But in light of recent debates about one’s ability to speak fluent English being used as a measure of intelligence, a UL student hit out at the comedian.

She wrote on Facebook , “I do not appreciate Mashabela's response pertaining the eNCA interview with the UL student whom was clearly explaining what was happening on the night when the strike got out of hand which was caused by the security that initially was meant to guard us and not attack us.

“There is a very thin line between comedy and critic... Now we UL graduates will have to work extra hard to get employment or acknowledgment in industries out there. Mashabela has just made our university a mediocre (one)... And students don't realize it... You will see it one day. ~English is not a measure of intelligence.”

IOL